Health and disability in Argentine children with complex congenital heart disease undergoing surgery. Outcomes at 2 years of life.

Introduction. Complex congenital heart defects are the most frequent malformations and entail a significant burden of disease. The objective of this study was to determine the health status and disability of children who underwent surgery at a tertiary care hospital. Population and methods. A total of 84 patients aged 21 to 39 months who had a surgery with extracorporeal circulation during their first year of life were assessed in terms of growth, neurodevelopment, and disability. Results. In most children, growth was below the 50 th percentile in all 3 parameters, and greater involvement was observed in those with an associated genetic disorder. The frequency of disability was 55%. In the group with isolated congenital heart disease, the severity of disease and a pathological neurological examination at discharge were associated with disability (p = 0.047 and p = 0.03). Having only public health coverage was associated with less access to timely interventions (p = 0.02). Conclusions. Nearly half of the patients develop moderate-severe disability. Being aware of morbidities beyond the cardiovascular aspect and risk factors is part of the health care team's scope. Barriers in access to appropriate interventions caution health care providers of the relevance of seeking strategies to overcome them and achieve the maximum development potential of patients.