Characteristics and Outcomes of Adults With Congenital Heart Disease in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit

Background

Little is known regarding the characteristics, treatment patterns, and outcomes in patients with adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) admitted to cardiac intensive care units (CICUs).

Objectives

The authors sought to better define the contemporary epidemiology, treatment patterns, and outcomes of ACHD admissions in the CICU.

Methods

The Critical Care Cardiology Trials Network is a multicenter network of CICUs in North America. Participating centers contributed prospective data from consecutive admissions during 2-month annual snapshots from 2017 to 2022. We analyzed characteristics and outcomes of admissions with ACHD compared with those without ACHD. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess mortality in ACHD vs non-ACHD admissions.

Results

Of 23,299 CICU admissions across 42 sites, there were 441 (1.9%) ACHD admissions. Shunt lesions were most common (46.1%), followed by right-sided lesions (29.5%) and complex lesions (28.7%). ACHD admissions were younger (median age 46 vs 67 years) than non-ACHD admissions. ACHD admissions were more commonly for heart failure (21.3% vs 15.7%, P < 0.001), general medical problems (15.6% vs 6.0%, P < 0.001), and atrial arrhythmias (8.6% vs 4.9%, P < 0.001). ACHD admissions had a higher median presenting Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score (5.0 vs 3.0, P < 0.001). Total hospital stay was longer for ACHD admissions (8.2 vs 5.9 days, P < 0.01), though in-hospital mortality was not different (12.7% vs 13.6%; age- and sex-adjusted OR: 1.19 [95% CI: 0.89-1.59], P = 0.239).

Conclusions

This study illustrates the unique aspects of the ACHD CICU admission. Further investigation into the best approach to manage specific ACHD-related CICU admissions, such as cardiogenic shock and acute respiratory failure, is warranted.