Introduction
Congenital heart disease (CHD), classified under cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), refers to any condition at birth in which the heart fails to operate as it should. It raises the danger of cardiac arrest, cardiogenic shock, eventual death, stroke, and irregular heartbeats, which lower life quality and shorten the lifespan. Heart disease has many potential root causes, including poor body structure, infection, inflammation, lifestyle factors, and heredity (Murray et al., 2019). Adopting an active lifestyle and avoiding tobacco use, fatty meals, and stress can help reduce the risk of heart disease. CHD poses a severe concern not just in America but also in most countries worldwide.
Sources of Research Evidence Identified in Weeks 3, 4, and 5
Finding completed and continuing quantitative and qualitative studies on heart disease was the primary goal of the search method. The researcher conducted a literature search using the conventional approach, which entailed a query of four databases (MEDLINE, EBSCOhost, Cochrane, and Google), using the following search terms: congenital heart disease, CVD, qualitative research on CHD, and quantitative study on CHD. After a literature search, the bibliographies of retrieved publications were analyzed for their usefulness. Quantitative and qualitative research approaches to heart disease were required for the articles to be accepted as providing proof of the crucial information needed. Articles on systematic reviews and mixed methods were all excluded because they did not match the researcher’s standards for quality research and reporting. Articles published within the last five years and research studies conducted entirely in English were utilized as filters for the selected literature.
Analysis of CHD
Significance of the Practice Problem
All aspects of the patients and their families’ life quality are affected by the enormous stress caused by caregiving due to physical tiredness, emotional anguish, and close relative sickness. Children with heart disease require intensive medical treatment, including many hospitalizations, surgical procedures, interventional treatments, care services provided by a specialized team, and lifelong monitoring as part of the condition’s management. Infants and young children with heart disease are at higher risk for neurological delays. Children who undergo heart surgery in their first year of life are more likely to require special education services later in life and to have lower academic performance than their typically developing peers (Leirgul et al., 2022). Adults with CHD are more likely to have physical decline than their healthy colleagues.
Young people with CHD have a wide range of physical abilities, depending on the defect’s severity and whether it has been fully repaired. Young adults with genetic arrhythmogenic illnesses may be subject to workout limitations and drugs reducing their physical activity level, even though high exercise intensity may raise the likelihood of some heart conditions like atrial fibrillation. Growing evidence suggests that adults with CHD might be at higher risk for mental health issues, including depression (Leirgul et al., 2022). This research focuses on the causes and effective treatment practices to help health professionals address the problem better.
The Prevalence of CHD
One in four Americans suffers from CHD, accounting for 600,000 deaths annually, as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported. As the leading cause of death worldwide, CHD is difficult to treat because of the various comorbidities with which it is often found. CHDs and arrhythmias are the most frequent heart problems in young adults and teenagers. About 10 out of every 1000 newborns around the world are born with heart defects. Heart diseases are relatively common; however, incidence rates vary across Asia, Europe, and North America. In Iran, heart disease affects less than 1% of newborns (Dalir et al., 2021). Children with heart disease face neurodevelopmental delays and a wide range of health issues, including physical, psychological, behavioral, and cognitive difficulties.
Synthesis of Evidence
Main Themes and Salient Evidence
One theme and salient evidence consistent in the three studies is that patients with CHD, even those in the youngest age brackets, frequently experience comorbid conditions. A second common subject and primary evidence is that CHD treatment can alleviate symptoms and prevent complications. The third constant theme is that CHD symptoms can be alleviated and heart function enhanced through proper medical care.
Comparison and Contrast of Main Points
Leirgul et al. (2022) and Dalir et al. (2021) confirm that young patients with heart disease are increasing in number and are at risk for cognitive and physical impairments. While Leirgul et al. (2022) compared young adults with heart disease to their peers, the study by Murray et al. (2019) looked at how the risk factors for CHD are linked to other comorbidities in men and women differently. Conversely, Dalir et al. (2021) set out to inquire into how families handle child caregiving within the context of their household. The difficulties of caring for patients with heart disease are highlighted by both Murray et al. (2019) and Dalir et al. (2021). The former, however, centered on the burdens placed on healthcare systems by the prevalence of chronic diseases. In contrast, the latter centered on the difficulties faced by families caring for children with CHD.
Objective Overarching Research Evidence
An objective dominant in the discussion about the collective evidence is to improve the prevention strategies and pharmacologic therapy of cardiovascular risk aspects to reduce the risk of heart failure and case fatalities. Leirgul et al. (2022) state that, due to advancements in medicine and surgery, more than 90% of children in Norway who have received treatment for CHD can be expected to live to adulthood. Murray et al. (2019) affirm that women face more obstacles in receiving a CHD diagnosis and treatment than men. Heart disease and other chronic illnesses complicate clinical management and increase healthcare costs. Dalir et al. (2021) argue that families should plan and coordinate the care they provide for their children. It is important to learn how families deal with caregiving difficulties to offer optimal and high-quality care for their children.
Appraisal of Evidence
Level of Evidence
The qualitative study by Dalir et al. (2021) presents level II evidence since it is a quasi-experimental study. The study aimed to evaluate interventions that do not use randomization. On the contrary, the quantitative articles by Leirgul et al. (2022) and Murray et al. (2019) present level I evidence. The level I evidence comprised an experiment where a population was randomly divided into two segments, the ‘study’ and ‘control,’ and either given or not an experimental preventative or therapeutic technique, strategy, or intervention. Effects of CHD, mortality, and recovery rates, as well as any other relevant outcomes, were compared rigorously between the study and control groups to determine efficacy.
Quality Rating
The controlled clinical trial by Leirgul et al. (2022) and Murray et al. (2019) divided the subjects into two or more categories at random. There was high-quality evidence in the three articles since they established a methodology for decision-making and routine work that teaches professionals to critically examine the available data’s reliability. The quality of the information on the most effective treatments and the likelihood of a positive outcome for patients are key factors in informing recommendations. Collectively, the three articles provide the most thorough evaluation of the quality of research for and connections between CHD, emerging comorbidities, successful therapy, and patient outcomes.
Suitability of the Evidence
Evidence-based practice is predicated on the principle that optimal choices should be grounded in rigorous analysis and the most up-to-date data. Therefore, the evidence in the three articles aids professionals in locating, assessing, and using supplementary data for their judgments. The opportunity exists to personalize screening, prevention, and therapy choices by identifying shared and unique correlations between CHD and other illnesses (Komalasari & Yoche, 2019). To improve families’ capabilities to realize effective caregiving for patients with CHD, the evidence presented can assist medical practitioners and nurses in developing family-centered empowerment programs.
Conclusion
Heart disease is a major problem not just in the United States but in many other nations as well. Caregiving causes enormous stress due to physical exhaustion, emotional anguish, and the illness of close relatives, which hurts all areas of life for patients and their families. Chronic heart disease is the leading cause of mortality globally, and it is difficult to treat due to the comorbidities that often accompany CHD. The consistent message in the articles is that with proper medical care, both CHD symptoms and heart function can improve. Since the three articles establish a methodology for decision-making and routine tasks that teach practitioners how to critically examine the credibility of the available data, one can confidently say that the evidence presented is of high quality.
References
Dalir, Z., Manzari, Z. S., Kareshki, H., & Heydari, A. (2021). Caregiving strategies in families of children with congenital heart disease: A qualitative study. Iranian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Research, 26(1), 60-67. Web.
Komalasari, R., & Yoche, M. M. (2019). Quality of life of people with cardiovascular disease: A descriptive study. Asian/Pacific Island Nursing Journal, 4(2), 92-96. Web.
Leirgul, E., Hysing, M., Greve, G., & Sivertsen, B. (2022). Physical and mental health in young adults with heart disease– A national survey of Norwegian university students. Cardiology in the Young, 32(2), 257-265. Web.
Murray, M. I. K., Bode, K., & Whittaker, P. (2019). Gender-specific associations between coronary heart disease and other chronic diseases: Cross-sectional evaluation of national survey data from adult residents of Germany. Journal of Geriatric Cardiology, 16(9), 663-670. Web.