“We have dealt with so much. There’s more coming?”: Improving Knowledge About Brain Health in Adults Living With Congenital Heart Disease

• Published in: CJC pediatric and congenital heart disease 2024-02, Vol.3 (1), p.1-10
• Main Authors: De Sousa, Ismalia, Dizonno, Vanessa, LeComte, Karen, Carr, Alexis, El Kalza, Yussef, Shymka, Mikayla, Payette, Roger H., Kuzmuk, Leah, Lyall, Emily M.E., Grewal, Jasmine, Smith, Jonathan M.C., Field, Thalia S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult Congenital Heart Disease
• ISSN: 2772-8129; 2772-8129
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cjcpc.2023.10.010

Significant advances in managing congenital heart disease (CHD) have occurred over the past few decades, resulting in a fast-growing adult patient population with distinct needs requiring urgent attention. Research has recently highlighted the prevalence of neurocognitive differences among adults living with CHD. Yet, there is a lack of knowledge about the perspectives of people living with CHD and family members/caregivers on brain health. We sought to explore their perspectives to guide future research and clinical endeavours. Using the principles of integrated knowledge translation and qualitative interpretive description, we conducted 2 focus groups with 7 individuals with CHD and their family members as part of a virtual forum on brain health in CHD. Data analysis followed the principles of interpretive description. A lack of understanding about overall brain health and neurocognitive differences in adult CHD was identified. To increase overall knowledge about brain health, initiatives should (1) focus on the individual living with CHD, involving family members and peers; (2) use social media and health care encounters for knowledge exchange; and (3) ensure a “balancing act” in the information provided to avoid feelings of worry and uncertainty about the future while simultaneously empowering people living with CHD. There is a pressing need for better education about brain health among individuals living with CHD. Our findings can guide clinicians in developing programmes of care and (re)design health services that address the brain-heart axis and neurocognitive differences in CHD. Des progrès significatifs ont été réalisés au cours des dernières décennies dans la prise en charge des cardiopathies congénitales, et il en résulte une croissance rapide de la population des patients adultes dont les besoins distincts requièrent une attention urgente. Des études récentes ont mis en évidence la prévalence des différences neurocognitives chez les adultes atteints de cardiopathies congénitales (CC). À ce jour, les connaissances sur les points de vue des personnes qui vivent avec la CC, des membres de leurs familles et de leurs aidants au sujet de la santé du cerveau sont insuffisantes. Notre objectif était d’explorer ces points de vue afin d’orienter les recherches à venir et les initiatives cliniques. En nous basant sur les approches d’application des connaissances intégrées et de description interprétative (DI) qualitative, nous avons organisé deux groupes