Who will be our adult congenital heart disease patient tomorrow?

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Digital Health
• Precision Medicine

Background:

• Advances in pediatric cardiology have increased the survival rate of congenital heart disease (CHD), leading to a growing population of adults with CHD (ACHD).
• The ACHD population is aging and experiencing increasing medical complexity, including heart failure (HF) and acquired comorbidities.
• Current healthcare systems face workforce shortages, necessitating innovative care models for the expanding ACHD demographic.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline a reimagined model of care for adult congenital heart disease (ACHD).
• To emphasize the integration of technology, precision medicine, and patient-centered approaches in future ACHD care.
• To address the evolving and diverse needs of the aging ACHD population.

Main Methods:

• Leveraging telemedicine, remote monitoring, and digital health platforms to decentralize care and improve accessibility.
• Integrating precision medicine approaches, including genomics and multi-omics, for individualized diagnosis and treatment.
• Utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) for enhanced early detection, risk prediction, surgical planning, and patient engagement.

Main Results:

• Telemedicine and digital health can improve follow-up care and reduce health disparities for ACHD patients.
• Precision medicine offers the potential for tailored therapies based on individual patient profiles.
• AI tools can support clinical decision-making, patient education, and shared decision-making processes.
• Personalized HF management strategies and transcatheter interventions can improve quality of life and minimize invasiveness.

Conclusions:

• Future ACHD care requires a paradigm shift towards accessibility, precision, and patient partnership.
• The integration of advanced technologies like AI and digital health is crucial for managing the complex needs of the ACHD population.
• Holistic care, encompassing mental health and social integration alongside medical treatment, is essential for lifelong well-being.
• Tomorrow's ACHD care model will blend technological innovation with a human-centered approach to deliver personalized, compassionate, and lifelong treatment.