IMPACT OF CYANOTIC HEART-DISEASE ON SCHOOL PERFORMANCE

Abstract

Surgical correction greatly decreases the mortality and cardiac morbidity of cyanotic congenital heart disease, but children remain at risk of long term difficulties in other areas. A historical cohort study was conducted to determine the relation between heart disease and school performance in 29 children aged 7 to 12 years old with simple transposition of the great arteries or tetralogy of Fallot. All children had surgical correction of their lesion before 2.5 years of age. Those at greater risk of school difficulties because of recognised complications of their heart disease or for reasons other than directly attributable to the heart disease were excluded. Comparison was made with 36 chi..