Patients Referred to the Paediatric Cardiology Outpatient Services at Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital in 2018: A review of demographics, referral patterns, diagnoses and clinical outcomes
| dc.contributor.advisor | Zühlke, Liesl | |
| dc.contributor.author | Tlopo, Canicia Puleng | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2023-03-13T08:53:40Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2023-03-13T08:53:40Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2022 | |
| dc.date.updated | 2023-02-21T07:24:41Z | |
| dc.description.abstract | Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) in children causes considerable morbidity and mortality in Africa and its impact on health systems is an emerging problem. Paediatric cardiology is a highly specialized field based in tertiary centres with worldwide demand exceeding available resources. Upon suspicion of CVD, specialist investigation, early intervention and follow-up are major challenges in low- and middle-income settings. Aim: To investigate and describe patients referred for specialist cardiology services at a tertiary children's hospital in Africa Methods: Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital (RCWMCH) is a tertiary paediatric hospital in Cape Town, South Africa. We reviewed patients referred to our outpatient cardiology service, investigating demographics, spectrum of disease, and clinical outcomes. Results: Between 1 January and 31 December 2018, 625 new patients were referred to cardiology outpatient department (COPD) services. Eighty percent (n=501) had structurally normal hearts. The majority of the remainder with confirmed CVD (98%, n=122) had congenital heart defects. Median age of the cohort with CVD was 3.9 months (IQR: 2.6-12.0) with a slight female preponderance (55%). Thirty-four (28%) patients were scheduled for surgery. Ten percent of referred patients had incomplete letters of referral, furthermore we found no feedback plans to these referring practitioners from the COPD doctors. Conclusion: Demands on paediatric cardiology services at RCWMCH are high. Most referred outpatients have structurally normal hearts, straining an already overwhelmed specialist service. However, 28% of patients found to have congenital defects required surgery, highlighting the need to prioritise certain patients. Strengthening communication and feedback channels between cardiologists and generalists will optimise care. | |
| dc.identifier.apacitation | Tlopo, C. P. (2022). <i>Patients Referred to the Paediatric Cardiology Outpatient Services at Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital in 2018: A review of demographics, referral patterns, diagnoses and clinical outcomes</i>. (). ,Faculty of Health Sciences ,Department of Paediatrics and Child Health. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/37363 | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.chicagocitation | Tlopo, Canicia Puleng. <i>"Patients Referred to the Paediatric Cardiology Outpatient Services at Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital in 2018: A review of demographics, referral patterns, diagnoses and clinical outcomes."</i> ., ,Faculty of Health Sciences ,Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, 2022. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/37363 | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.citation | Tlopo, C.P. 2022. Patients Referred to the Paediatric Cardiology Outpatient Services at Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital in 2018: A review of demographics, referral patterns, diagnoses and clinical outcomes. . ,Faculty of Health Sciences ,Department of Paediatrics and Child Health. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/37363 | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.ris | TY - Master Thesis AU - Tlopo, Canicia Puleng AB - Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) in children causes considerable morbidity and mortality in Africa and its impact on health systems is an emerging problem. Paediatric cardiology is a highly specialized field based in tertiary centres with worldwide demand exceeding available resources. Upon suspicion of CVD, specialist investigation, early intervention and follow-up are major challenges in low- and middle-income settings. Aim: To investigate and describe patients referred for specialist cardiology services at a tertiary children's hospital in Africa Methods: Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital (RCWMCH) is a tertiary paediatric hospital in Cape Town, South Africa. We reviewed patients referred to our outpatient cardiology service, investigating demographics, spectrum of disease, and clinical outcomes. Results: Between 1 January and 31 December 2018, 625 new patients were referred to cardiology outpatient department (COPD) services. Eighty percent (n=501) had structurally normal hearts. The majority of the remainder with confirmed CVD (98%, n=122) had congenital heart defects. Median age of the cohort with CVD was 3.9 months (IQR: 2.6-12.0) with a slight female preponderance (55%). Thirty-four (28%) patients were scheduled for surgery. Ten percent of referred patients had incomplete letters of referral, furthermore we found no feedback plans to these referring practitioners from the COPD doctors. Conclusion: Demands on paediatric cardiology services at RCWMCH are high. Most referred outpatients have structurally normal hearts, straining an already overwhelmed specialist service. However, 28% of patients found to have congenital defects required surgery, highlighting the need to prioritise certain patients. Strengthening communication and feedback channels between cardiologists and generalists will optimise care. DA - 2022_ DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town KW - Paediatric cardiology referrals KW - Low- and middle-income paediatric cardiology services LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PY - 2022 T1 - Patients Referred to the Paediatric Cardiology Outpatient Services at Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital in 2018: A review of demographics, referral patterns, diagnoses and clinical outcomes TI - Patients Referred to the Paediatric Cardiology Outpatient Services at Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital in 2018: A review of demographics, referral patterns, diagnoses and clinical outcomes UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/37363 ER - | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/11427/37363 | |
| dc.identifier.vancouvercitation | Tlopo CP. Patients Referred to the Paediatric Cardiology Outpatient Services at Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital in 2018: A review of demographics, referral patterns, diagnoses and clinical outcomes. []. ,Faculty of Health Sciences ,Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, 2022 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/37363 | en_ZA |
| dc.language.rfc3066 | eng | |
| dc.publisher.department | Department of Paediatrics and Child Health | |
| dc.publisher.faculty | Faculty of Health Sciences | |
| dc.subject | Paediatric cardiology referrals | |
| dc.subject | Low- and middle-income paediatric cardiology services | |
| dc.title | Patients Referred to the Paediatric Cardiology Outpatient Services at Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital in 2018: A review of demographics, referral patterns, diagnoses and clinical outcomes | |
| dc.type | Master Thesis | |
| dc.type.qualificationlevel | Masters | |
| dc.type.qualificationlevel | MMed |