Lack of specialist care is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in adult congenital heart disease: a population-based study
Authors' conclusion
Cardiology care compared with primary care is associated with superior survival and lower rates of major complications in ACHD.
Study context
- Population
- Insured adults (<70 years) with congenital heart disease, German health insurance datamedian age 43 years
- Participants
- 24,139 adults
- Exposure
- Cardiology follow-up vs primary care only
- Outcome
- Death and major events
- Follow-up
- 3-year period (2014–2016)
Methodological detailspopulation-based, propensity score adjusted, administrative insurance data
- Population-based
- Propensity score adjusted
- Administrative insurance data
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Cardiology follow-up vs PCPsHazard ratio (95% CI)P value
Death
0.81(0.67–0.98)
P = 0.03Major events
0.85(0.78–0.92)
P < 0.001Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | Absolute risk difference |
|---|---|
| Mortality, moderate/severe complexity lesions (subgroup) · 3 years | 0.9% |
Original publication
Lack of specialist care is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in adult congenital heart disease: a population-based study. Eur Heart J. Published 16 July 2021. doi:10.
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it