The NITRIC Follow-up Study
Congenital heart defects (CHDs) are conditions that are present at birth and can affect the structure of a baby’s heart and the way it works. They are the most common type of birth defect with over 1000 infants and children in Australia and New Zealand requiring heart surgery each year. As advancements in medical care and treatment progress, infants with congenital heart defects are living longer and healthier lives. Many now are living into adulthood.
Neurodevelopmental disabilities can be common after surgical repair of congenital heart disease (CHD). Studies have shown that children with CHD can have more problems with learning, behaviour, language and social skills than their peers.
Difficulties in these areas may lead to poor school performance, relationship and behavioural issues. We already know some factors that might cause these problems.
The factors that we know about only explain about 30% of child outcomes after cardiac surgery with 70% remaining a mystery at this time.
Study Aims
The NITRIC Follow-up Study aims to find out more about the surgery and recovery factors that influence how infants and young children recover and develop their thinking after cardiac surgery.
This will help us determine the best time to provide support for particular outcomes (e.g. physiotherapy, speech therapy).
Information from this study will tell us more about how we should care for children with congenital heart disease after surgery. By understanding these outcomes in children up until school age, we can watch and support children and families better as they enter a new stage in their lives.
This study has three components:
Please have a look at the video below to learn more about the Nitric Follow-up study
