@Article{chd.12612,
AUTHOR = {Kevin C. Harris, Christine Voss, Kathryn Rankin, Basmina Aminzadah, Ross Gardner, Andrew S. Mackie},
TITLE = {Modifiable cardiovascular risk factors in adolescents and adults with congenital heart disease},
JOURNAL = {Structural and Congenital Heart Disease},
VOLUME = {13},
YEAR = {2018},
NUMBER = {4},
PAGES = {563--570},
URL = {http://www.techscience.com/schd/v13n4/39027},
ISSN = {3071-1738},
ABSTRACT = {<b>Objective:</b> Individuals with congenital heart disease (CHD) may be at higher risk of acquired cardiovascular disease than the general population due to their underlying physiology and/or surgical
sequelae. We sought to assess the prevalence of cardiovascular disease risk factors in youth and
adults with CHD.<br/>
<b>Methods:</b> We assessed cardiovascular health as per the Cardiovascular Health in Ambulatory Care
Research Team (CANHEART) health index in patients with CHD aged 15+ years who attended
cardiology outpatient clinics. Participants self-reported smoking behavior, fruit and vegetable consumption, physical activity, and whether they had diabetes and hypertension. Individual health
indices were categorized into ideal/not ideal, and sum of individual health indices was categorized
as poor, intermediate or ideal cardiovascular health as per CANHEART criteria.<br/>
<b>Results:</b> We included n = 102 adults (35.4 ± 12.9 years, 46% female) and n = 88 youth (17.2 ± 1.1
years, 41% female). Most individuals reported to be nonsmokers (88% youth vs 86% adults) and to
consume ≥5 servings of fruit and vegetables per day (83% vs 85%, respectively). More adults than
youth were overweight/obese (52% vs 22%, p < 0.001) though more adults than youth reported
meeting age-specific physical activity guidelines (84% vs 55%, p < 0.001). According to CANHEART health index criteria, 32% of youth and 27% of adults were in ideal cardiovascular health.<br/>
<b>Conclusions:</b> A low proportion of individuals with CHD are in ideal cardiovascular health, suggesting a need to promote healthy lifestyles during adolescence and throughout adulthood in these
individuals.},
DOI = {10.1111/chd.12612}
}