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Impact of Social Determinants of Health on Outcomes for Patients with Adult Congenital Heart Disease

  • Congenital Heart Disease (RA Krasuski and G Fleming, Section Editors)
  • Published:
Current Cardiology Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

The study of adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD) is a rapidly growing field; however, more research is needed on the disparities affecting outcomes. With advances in medicine, a high percentage of patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) are advancing to adulthood, leading to an increase in the number of ACHD. This creates a pressing need to evaluate the factors, specifically the social determinants of health (SDOH) contributing to the outcomes for ACHD.

Recent Findings

A myriad of factors, including, but not limited to, race, education, and socioeconomic status, have been shown to affect ACHD outcomes. Existing data from hospitalizations, mortality and morbidity, advanced care planning, patient and physician awareness, financial factors, and education alongside race and socioeconomic status present differences in ACHD outcomes.

Summary

With SDOH having a significant impact on ACHD subspecialty care outcomes, ACHD centers need to be constantly adapting and innovating, incorporating SDOH into patient management, and providing additional healthcare resources to manage the care of ACHD.

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Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to humbly thank doctors Keila Lopez, Elizabeth Adams, Kiona Y. Allen, Immanuel Turner, Emily Bucholz, Shabnam Peyvandi, Annette K. Ansong, and Anita Moon-Grady, Kristin M. Burns, Stephen C. Cook, Susan M. Jameson, and Audrey Dionne for their leadership in understanding and mitigating the impact of social determinants of health in congenital heart disease and in particular the contribution to the session at American College of Cardiology Scientific Sessions 2023 that in part inspired this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center, Houston Methodist Hospital, 6550 Fannin St, Smith Tower Suite 1901, Houston, TX, 77030, USA

    Suhas Babu, Nandan Shettigar & C. Huie Lin

  2. The University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX, USA

    Suhas Babu

  3. Texas A&M School of Medicine, Bryan, TX, USA

    Paulamy Ganguly

  4. Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA

    Nandan Shettigar

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  1. Suhas Babu
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Correspondence to C. Huie Lin.

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Babu, S., Ganguly, P., Shettigar, N. et al. Impact of Social Determinants of Health on Outcomes for Patients with Adult Congenital Heart Disease. Curr Cardiol Rep (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11886-024-02059-w

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