Access to paediatric cardiac surgery in Colombia: a population-based study

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Surgery
• Health Systems Research
• Pediatric Cardiology

Background:

• Congenital heart disease (CHD) mortality is declining globally, but its proportion of infant deaths is rising in middle-income countries like Colombia.
• Assessing healthcare accessibility is crucial for improving outcomes in pediatric populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the accessibility of pediatric cardiac surgery (PCS) for children under 18 in Colombia during 2016.
• To analyze key health system indicators related to PCS provision and outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Utilized cross-sectional and retrospective cohort study designs in Bogotá, Colombia.
• Assessed geographic access, number of pediatric cardiac surgeons, procedure volume and distribution, and 30-day perioperative mortality rates.

Main Results:

• 64% of Colombian children under 18 lived within a 2-hour drive of a PCS institution.
• 28 surgeons performed PCS, with 82% formally trained. 1281 procedures were done, concentrated in 6 departments.
• The national 30-day perioperative mortality rate was 2.73%.

Conclusions:

• Paediatric cardiac surgery access in Colombia was geographically variable in 2016.
• The study highlights the potential for timely, high-quality care but identifies disparities for underserved populations.
• Findings support future analyses of health system interventions to improve healthcare equity in Colombia and Latin America.