Pediatric Cardiology News

Subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillators are effective in preventing arrhythmic death in people with congenital heart disease, with the devices successfully terminating all life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias, data show.

School-based screening and management strategies for childhood obesity including dietary and exercise interventions with family and peer participation could improve the trajectory of CV risk in adulthood, according to a scientific statement.

A low-dose regimen of the blood pressure medication carvedilol demonstrated safety and efficacy in improving heart health of childhood cancer survivors, according to results of a multicenter phase 2b trial.

Congenital heart defects are the most common type of birth defect, affecting nearly 1% of births per year in the United States, according to the CDC.

Texas Children’s Hospital was named the top hospital for pediatric cardiology and heart surgery in the 2023 to 2024 rankings by U.S. News & World Report for the seventh consecutive year.

Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center was ranked No. 1 on the U.S. News & World Report’s list of best children’s hospitals for the first time.

In a large Israeli cohort, adolescent hypertension was associated with a more than twofold increased risk for stroke by midlife, even after adjustment for BMI, baseline sociodemographic factors and diabetes.

Most teens and young adults with advanced heart disease prefer patient-led, active decision-making to discuss treatment risks, prognosis and end-of-life care, whereas caregivers prefer parent/physician shared decision-making, data show.

The first prospective FDA-regulated device trial using a pediatric ventricular assist device registry was launched in November. It could transform how research is conducted in children with advanced heart failure.

Perioperative corticosteroids did not improve in-hospital mortality for children who underwent cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass, though corticosteroids may reduce hospital length of stay, data show.