Preventing cardiac diseases in childhood

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Cardiology
• Preventive Cardiology
• Public Health

Background:

• The global burden of pediatric cardiac disease, including congenital heart disease (CHD), bicuspid aortic valve disease, cardiomyopathies, arrhythmias, and acquired conditions, is substantial but not fully quantified.
• Many children worldwide lack access to timely diagnosis and treatment for heart conditions due to resource limitations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline early detection and prevention strategies for various pediatric cardiovascular diseases.
• To highlight the work of the Association of European Pediatric and Congenital Cardiology (AEPC) working group on cardiovascular prevention since 2011.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing pulse oximetry for early, cost-effective screening of critical CHD in newborns.
• Implementing pre-participation sports medical screenings combining medical history, physical examination, and ECG to prevent sudden cardiac death (SCD).
• Screening for cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors like obesity, hypertension, and dyslipidemia in children, particularly those with a family history or comorbidities.

Main Results:

• Pulse oximetry screening for critical CHD has demonstrated high specificity and moderate sensitivity in large-scale studies, leading to its adoption in screening panels.
• Pre-participation sports evaluations are vital for identifying risks in children with CHD and preventing SCD.
• Early detection and management of CVD risk factors, alongside lifestyle interventions, can postpone clinical events in adulthood for high-risk pediatric populations.

Conclusions:

• Preventive measures play a crucial role in altering the prognosis of childhood cardiac diseases.
• The AEPC Preventive Cardiology working group is developing guidelines for the prevention and early detection of pediatric cardiovascular diseases.