Results
Of the 205 patients 32% had complex congenital heart disease, 21% right-ventricular outflow tract obstructions, 20% pre-tricuspid shunts, 18% left-ventricular outflow tract obstructions, 9% post-tricuspid shunts, 2% other cardiac anomalies. The reason for rehabilitation was surgery for their congenital heart disease in 92%, intervention in 3%, various other reasons were present in the remaining persons. Of the included patients, 46% were male and 54% were female with an average age of 34 ± 12 years (range 16–68 years). Of these, 20% were active smokers, 15% had chronic arterial hypertension, 21% had hyperlipidemia, 4% had diabetes mellitus. The mean follow-up was 28 ± 24 months (0.5 – 127 months). In NYHA III/IV functional class directly before and after rehabilitation, and at final follow-up were 8%, 2% and 5%. Directly before and after rehabilitation and at final follow-up, 77%, 82%, 84% of the patients were deemed capable of work. Unfit for work were 0%, 3%, 2%, respectively. Conversely, in the same time the difference of the mean resting systolic blood pressure increased by 10 mmHg (95% CI 9–12 mmHg). The comparison of maximum watt at stress-tests during rehabilitation and at final follow-up was 94 ± 31 watts versus 138 ± 58 watts with a mean difference of 47 watts (95% confidence interval (CI) 41 – 54 watts) after baseline adjustment. During follow-up 1 patient developed stroke, 5 developed cardiac decompensation (2%), whereas the remaining patients did not develop severe cardiovascular complications.
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