CONGENITAL HEART-DISEASE - PREVALENCE AND COURSE DURING COMPULSORY SCHOOLING (8TH TO 16TH YEAR OF LIFE)

In continuation of former studies regarding the first year of life and the preschool period, the prevalence and course of congenital heart d isease in children during compulsory schooling has been studied. Compa red with the preschool period, few cardiac defects are discovered, the prevalence up to 16 years of age being 9.9%. The mortality rate (2.7% ) and also the rate of spontaneous normalization (4%) is significantly lower (compared to 18.7% and 21% respectively in the preschool period ). Medical measures are needed less frequently, with 10 times fewer op erations and 15 times fewer heart catheterizations being performed. Ap art from the decline of hospital stays, checkups in the outpatient cli nic also declined 3-4 times in comparison with the period between birt h and school entry. School performance is very good. Only 4% of the ch ildren are unable to attend a normal school for cardiac reasons, and t he percentage of pupils attending secondary school is higher than norm al. In 5% of the children exercise tolerance is decreased due to the c ardiac condition. In 85%, the quality of life is normal during the com pulsory school period. Impairment is most often caused by additional n on-cardiac malformations or very severe heart disease.