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Early school-age cognitive performance post-pediatric heart transplantation
Anna Gold1,2, Bianca C Bondi1, Jenna Ashkanase3,4
1Department of Psychology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Pediatric Transplantation
|October 26, 2020
Summary
Pediatric heart transplant recipients often show low-average cognitive and academic skills, with over half receiving psychological diagnoses. Early identification and support are crucial for these children's long-term well-being.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Neuropsychology
- Developmental Pediatrics
Background:
- Improved survival in pediatric heart transplantation (HTx) necessitates focus on long-term quality of life, including cognitive and developmental outcomes.
- Neuropsychological assessments are vital for understanding individual needs and guiding interventions in pediatric HTx survivors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the cognitive and developmental outcomes of pediatric heart transplant recipients.
- To identify the prevalence of psychological diagnoses in this population and factors predicting outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Conducted routine neuropsychological assessments in 25 pediatric HTx recipients aged 5-7 years.
- Included tests of general intellect, academics, perceptual-motor abilities, and memory.
- Collected relevant medical variables, including diagnoses and time since transplantation.
Main Results:
- Cognitive, academic, and perceptual-motor functioning were in the low-average range; memory was in the average range.
- 56% of children received a DSM-5 clinical diagnosis, including Mild Intellectual Disability and Learning Disability.
- Neurological issues and congenital heart disease predicted poorer neuropsychological performance.
Conclusions:
- Over 50% of pediatric HTx recipients in this cohort received a clinical psychological diagnosis, exceeding general population rates.
- This population requires ongoing monitoring for early identification and support in educational and community settings.
