PREDICTION OF BEHAVIORAL AND EMOTIONAL-PROBLEMS IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS WITH OPERATED CONGENITAL HEART-DISEASE

Aims The aim of the present study was to determine which medical varia bles were predictors of long-term behavioural/emotional outcome after surgical correction for congenital heart disease in infancy and childh ood. Methods The Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) was used to predict p arent-reported behavioural/emotional problems in 125 10-15 year-old co ngenital heart disease children from: (1) biographical status (2) medi cal history (3) heart surgery (4) short-term post-operative course and (5) number of heart operations and (6) extra cardiac concomitant anom alies. Results Higher CBCL total problem scores at follow-up were asso ciated with a greater number of heart operations and deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (<22 degrees). 'Internalizing problems' were associ ated with a greater number of heart operations, deep hypothermic circu latory arrest, a short gestational age, low systemic oxygen saturation , and older age at surgical repair. 'Externalizing problems' were asso ciated with a greater number of heart operations only. Conclusion Seve ral medical variables were significant predictors and can be used to i dentify those congenital heart disease children who are at risk of lon g-term behavioural/emotional maladjustment.