Current Challenges in Adult Congenital Heart Diseases

Dear Colleagues,

Advances in neonatal cardiac surgery and significant improvements in medical therapy over recent decades have reshaped the landscape of congenital heart disease (CHD). As a result, the population of adults living with CHD (ACHD) now exceeds that of children, creating a rapidly growing and uniquely complex patient group. This demographic shift brings new challenges that extend well beyond childhood and into every stage of adult life.

Among the most pressing issues is the transition from pediatric to adult-centered care, which is complicated by a shortage of ACHD specialists and loss to follow-up. Many adults with congenital heart disease experience diminished quality of life due to residual lesions, late complications, and psychosocial burdens. Pregnancy poses additional risks and requires careful preconception counseling and coordinated management. Furthermore, heart failure and arrhythmias are leading causes of morbidity and mortality in this population. These conditions often develop earlier in ACHD patients than in patients with acquired heart disease. Addressing these challenges demands truly multidisciplinary care, drawing on cardiology, cardiac surgery, imaging, electrophysiology, mental health, reproductive medicine, and beyond.

This Special Issue invites original research and comprehensive reviews that will enhance clinicians’ understanding and support their everyday practice in managing adults with congenital heart disease.

Prof. Dr. Agata Bielecka-Dabrowa
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Journal of Clinical Medicine is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.