@Article{,
AUTHOR = {Leda Klouda, Wayne J. Franklin, Anita Saraf, Dhaval R. Parekh, David D. Schwartz},
TITLE = {Neurocognitive and executive functioning in adult survivors of congenital heart disease},
JOURNAL = {Structural and Congenital Heart Disease},
VOLUME = {12},
YEAR = {2017},
NUMBER = {1},
PAGES = {91--98},
URL = {http://www.techscience.com/schd/v12n1/38727},
ISSN = {3071-1738},
ABSTRACT = {<b>Objective:</b> Congenital heart disease (CHD) can affect the developing central nervous system,
resulting in neurocognitive and behavioral deficits. Preoperative neurological abnormalities as well
as sequelae of the open heart operations required to correct structural abnormalities of the heart
contribute to these deficits. There are few studies examining the neurocognitive functioning of
adults with CHD. This study sought to investigate multiple domains of neurocognitive functioning
in adult survivors of CHD who had childhood cardiac surgery with either moderate or severe disease complexity.<br/>
<b>Design:</b> A total of 48 adults (18–49 years of age) who had undergone cardiac surgery for CHD
prior to five years of age participated in the study. CHD severity was classified as moderate or
severe according to the 32nd Bethesda Guidelines. A computerized battery of standardized neurocognitive tests (CNS-Vital Signs), a validated rating scale of executive functioning, and
demographic questionnaires were administered.<br/>
<b>Results:</b> There were no significant differences between the moderate CHD group and normative
data on any cognitive measure. In contrast, the severe CHD group differed from norms in multiple
domains: psychomotor speed, processing speed, complex attention, reaction time, and on the
overall neurocognitive index. Number of surgeries was strongly related to worse executive functioning. There was no association between age at first surgery or time since last surgery and
neuropsychological functioning. Number of surgeries was also unrelated to neurocognitive test
performance.<br/>
<b>Conclusions:</b> Patients with severe CHD performed significantly worse on measures of processing
speed, attention, and executive functioning. These findings may be useful in the long-term care of
adults with congenital heart disease.},
DOI = {}
}