Congenital Heart Disease: Approach to Evaluation, Management, and Physical Activity

Congenital heart disease (CHD) affects an estimated 0.8–1% of live-births. With advances in diagnostic imaging, medical care, and surgical interventions, more patients with CHD are surviving through childhood and into adulthood with high quality of life and functional capacity. More patients with CHD wish to, or currently, participate in competitive sports. Because of the varied physiology and severity of different forms of CHD, specific knowledge of a patient’s specific disease and pathophysiology is essential. Patients with CHD ultimately require a multidisciplinary, individualized, and shared decision-making approach for evaluation and management, and for recommendations regarding sports participation. This chapter will review the most common forms of structural CHD and congenital coronary artery anomalies, with emphasis on pathophysiology, diagnostic evaluation and management, and recommendations for sport participation.