Long-term Associations of an Early Corrected Ventricular Septal Defect and Stress Systems of Child and Mother at Primary School Age

Stonawski V, Vollmer L, Köhler-Jonas JN, Rohleder N, Golub Y, Purbojo A, Moll G, Heinrich H, Cesnjevar R, Kratz O, Eichler A (2017)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2017

Journal

Frontiers in Pediatrics Frontiers Media

Book Volume: 5

DOI: 10.3389/fped.2017.00293

Abstract

Introduction: Ventricular septal defect (VSD) is the most common congenital heart defect, with larger VSDs typically being corrected with an open-heart surgery during infancy. Long-term consequences of a VSD-corrective surgery on stress systems of child and mother are still unknown. The aim of the present study is to investigate the associations of an early corrected VSD and diurnal cortisol release of child and mother. Methods: 26 children (12 boys) between 6 and 9 years old, who underwent surgery for an isolated VSD within the first 3 years of life, and their mothers participated in the study. Their diurnal cortisol profiles were compared to a sex-, age-, and socioeconomic status-matched healthy control group. Within the VSD group, associations between cortisol and characteristics of surgery and hospitalization were investigated. Child and mother psychopathological symptoms were considered as a possible interfering mechanism of altered cortisol profiles. Results: Diurnal cortisol profiles of children with an early corrected VSD did not differ from those of controls. However, mothers of affected children exhibited higher cortisol levels in the morning (p < 0.001, [Formula: see text]) and a steeper diurnal cortisol slope (p = 0.016, [Formula: see text]) than mothers of healthy children. Conclusion: Results indicate a favorable development of children with an early corrected VSD, in terms of comparable diurnal cortisol profiles with healthy controls, according to a comparable mother-rated psychopathology. Mothers of affected children reveal altered diurnal cortisol levels, without differences in self-rated psychopathology. This divergence should be clarified in future research.

Authors with CRIS profile

Valeska Stonawski Department of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Janna Nicola Köhler-Jonas Department of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Nicolas Rohleder Lehrstuhl für Gesundheitspsychologie Yulia Golub Department of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Ariawan Purbojo Department of Paediatric Cardiac Surgery Robert Cesnjevar Department of Paediatric Cardiac Surgery Oliver Kratz Department of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Anna Eichler Department of Child and Adolescent Mental Health

How to cite

APA:

Stonawski, V., Vollmer, L., Köhler-Jonas, J.N., Rohleder, N., Golub, Y., Purbojo, A.,... Eichler, A. (2017). Long-term Associations of an Early Corrected Ventricular Septal Defect and Stress Systems of Child and Mother at Primary School Age. Frontiers in Pediatrics, 5. https://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fped.2017.00293

MLA:

Stonawski, Valeska, et al. "Long-term Associations of an Early Corrected Ventricular Septal Defect and Stress Systems of Child and Mother at Primary School Age." Frontiers in Pediatrics 5 (2017).

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