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News
Adults with congenital heart disease (CHD) face higher mortality not just from their original heart defect, but from acquired conditions like coronary artery disease, sleep apnoea, and depression. A large study of nearly 10,000 patients found these comorbidities — along with smoking — independently raised the risk of death. Experts say CHD care needs to go beyond lesion-specific monitoring.
Adults living with congenital heart disease (CHD) are increasingly surviving into adulthood — but a new study shows that what happens after the original diagnosis matters just as much. A large retrospective cohort study of nearly 10,000 adult CHD patients found that acquired comorbidities like coronary artery disease, sleep apnoea, and depression were independently linked to a higher risk of all-cause mortality, alongside older age, male sex, and greater lesion complexity.
The study, published in the European Heart Journal, followed patients over a median of 10 years. Notably, classic cardiometabolic risk factors — hypertension, high cholesterol, and diabetes — did not independently predict mortality in this population, suggesting the risk profile for CHD adults differs from the general population. Higher income was also associated with a lower mortality risk, highlighting a socioeconomic dimension to outcomes.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: These findings push for a broader model of adult CHD care — one that actively screens for and manages acquired conditions and lifestyle factors, not just the structural heart defect itself.
