Knowledge about the Disease and the Practice of Physical Activity in Children and Adolescents with Congenital Heart Disease

Abstract Background Knowledge about the disease itself can be important for self-care in patients with several problems and comprehends information about the diagnosis up to the most important clinical implications. Objective To identify the level of knowledge of children and adolescents with congenital heart disease (CHD) about their illness, and to analyze the association between the level of knowledge and the practice of physical activity. Methods Cross-sectional study with 335 patients with CHD, aged 8 to 13 years, followed at a referral pediatric cardiology service in Southern Brazil. Patients were interviewed regarding their knowledge about CHD and a review of medical records was performed to obtain details on heart disease and procedures. A significance level p