Assil Abda1, Marie-Eve Bolduc2,3, Argerie Tsimicalis4, Janet Rennick3,4,5,6, Dylan Vatcher1, Marie Brossard-Racine2,3,6. 1. Faculty of Medicine, McGill University. 2. School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University. 3. Child Health and Human Development, McGill University Health Center - Research Institute. 4. Ingram School of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University. 5. Department of Nursing, Montreal Children's Hospital, McGill University Health Centre. 6. Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Over the past 20 years, there has been a growing interest in the psychosocial outcomes of children and adolescents born with a congenital heart defect (CHD). This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to appraise and synthesize current literature on the psychosocial outcomes of children and adolescents with severe CHD. METHODS: A search of studies examining psychosocial outcomes in children and adolescents with severe CHD was performed. Meta-analyses were used to calculate the prevalence of psychosocial impairments and the standardized mean differences between cases and controls. Results that were not included in the meta-analysis were collated using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: A total of 16 studies were included in this review, and results were summarized according to three domains: behavior, social cognition, and self-esteem. Results from a meta-analysis identified that 25% of children and adolescents with CHD presented behavioral problems. Children and adolescents with CHD had more problematic behavior than healthy peers (standardized mean difference; g = 0.71). Young people with CHD had significantly more difficulties inferring on the mental states of others (standardized mean difference; g = 0.72). In contrast, identifying the emotions of others and self-esteem was not statistically different from healthy controls. CONCLUSION: This review and meta-analysis provides evidence to support the presence of psychosocial difficulties in children and adolescents born with a severe CHD giving grounds for the systematic assessment of behavior and social cognition during their clinical follow-up.
OBJECTIVE: Over the past 20 years, there has been a growing interest in the psychosocial outcomes of children and adolescents born with a congenital heart defect (CHD). This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to appraise and synthesize current literature on the psychosocial outcomes of children and adolescents with severe CHD. METHODS: A search of studies examining psychosocial outcomes in children and adolescents with severe CHD was performed. Meta-analyses were used to calculate the prevalence of psychosocial impairments and the standardized mean differences between cases and controls. Results that were not included in the meta-analysis were collated using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: A total of 16 studies were included in this review, and results were summarized according to three domains: behavior, social cognition, and self-esteem. Results from a meta-analysis identified that 25% of children and adolescents with CHD presented behavioral problems. Children and adolescents with CHD had more problematic behavior than healthy peers (standardized mean difference; g = 0.71). Young people with CHD had significantly more difficulties inferring on the mental states of others (standardized mean difference; g = 0.72). In contrast, identifying the emotions of others and self-esteem was not statistically different from healthy controls. CONCLUSION: This review and meta-analysis provides evidence to support the presence of psychosocial difficulties in children and adolescents born with a severe CHD giving grounds for the systematic assessment of behavior and social cognition during their clinical follow-up.