[Care of adults with congenital heart diseases in Germany-Leading role by internal medicine specialists and general practitioners]. / Versorgung von Erwachsenen mit angeborenen Herzfehlern in Deutschland tragende Rolle von Internisten und Hausärzten.
Internist (Berl)
; 63(1): 95-102, 2022 Jan.
Article
en De
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-34985563
BACKGROUND: The number of adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD) is steadily increasing. The present cross-sectional study was conceived to investigate ACHD care from the perspective of patients and family practitioners (specialists for general medicine and internal medicine, general practitioners). METHODS: Questionnaire-based cross-sectional study to analyze the real care situation of ACHD in Germany from the perspective of patients and primary care physicians (PCP). RESULTS: The questionnaire was completed by 4493 ACHD (53.7% female; 41.3⯱ 16.9 years) and 1055 PCP. The majority of ACHD (79.8%) visited their PCP for noncardiac health problems but also for cardiac problems. Almost all ACHD had substantial needs for medical consultation (performance, employment etc.). Of the patients 2014 (44.8%) did not know of any certified ACHD specialists or specialized centers and 2816 (62.7%) respondents were not aware of any ACHD patient organization. Of the PCPs 87.5% had cared for ACHD of all severities due to defect-typical residual and resulting symptoms. Many were not aware of any certified ACHD specialists. Only 28.5% consulted an ACHD specialist. Only 23.5% were aware of ACHD patient organizations. CONCLUSION: General practitioners are a mainstay of ACHD care in Germany. The present study shows that ACHD and their general practitioners are largely uninformed about the specialized care structures available nationwide, despite the high level of need for specialist care. In order to keep the morbidity and mortality of affected patients low, solutions must be elaborated in future to involve and integrate primary care physicians more intensively into the already existing dedicated ACHD care structures, in cooperation with specialized pediatric cardiologists, cardiologists and centers.
Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Médicos Generales
/
Cardiopatías Congénitas
Tipo de estudio:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Observational_studies
/
Prevalence_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Límite:
Adult
/
Child
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
País/Región como asunto:
Europa
Idioma:
De
Revista:
Internist (Berl)
Año:
2022
Tipo del documento:
Article
Pais de publicación:
Alemania