Introduction:
Heart disease in children can be divided into two categories: congenital heart disease (cyanotic and non-cyanotic) and acquired heart disease. Of these two, congenital heart disease is by far the more common. It is estimated that between 8 and 10 newborns out of every 1,000 births has a heart defect. In some cases, the symptoms may not appear until the child is already past his or her fifth birthday. However, the first symptoms will usually be observed before the child reaches 2 years of age. The acquired heart diseases in children include e.g. myocarditis, cardiomyopathy, heart failure, systemic hypertension, syncope and so on. The burden of illness associated with an acquired cardiac disease in children is significant and may be equivalent to that of congenital heart disease since they impact the quality of life during childhood. Moreover, the treatment and its outcomes may be utterly different for children than for adults with the same acquired heart disease.
History
Pediatric Cardiovascular Research Center began working in 1993 as a division of Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Center, namely the prevention of heart disease in children unit. Following various research projects and activities performed, this unit was eventually able to obtain the agreement in principle, and be promoted to the Pediatric Cardiovascular Research Center. Pediatric Cardiovascular Research Center, with the goal of collecting accurate statistics and information on heart disease in children, especially congenital heart disease, and conducting research activities in the field of prevention, control, and treatment of heart disease in children was formally established on April 17, 2017 in Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan, Iran.
Status
The Pediatric Cardiovascular Research Center succeeded in obtaining in-principle approval on April 17, 2017.
Aims
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Development of fundamental, epidemiological and clinical research in the field of pediatric heart diseases (especially congenital heart diseases, acquired heart diseases and metabolic syndrome in children and adolescents) and increasing the quality and quantity of projects research in center
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Increasing the material and spiritual support of public and private organizations and institutions in the field of developing research plans and projects
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Developing the human capacity and apply human knowledge to do research in the field of pediatric heart diseases, especially congenital heart diseases
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Collaborating with other research and education Centers at both national and international level
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Establishing a congenital heart disease registration system in Isfahan, collecting, organizing and classifying relevant documents and publishing articles
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Increase community awareness about pediatric heart diseases, risk factors congenital heart diseases and the importance of early diagnosis of congenital heart diseases (especially during the fetal period)
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Increasing the awareness of stakeholders and policymakers of the health system about pediatric heart diseases and impact on the target community
Vision
In the next five years, Pediatric Cardiovascular Research Center want to be one of the superior pole of research centers related to the prevention, control and treatment of heart diseases in children in the nationally and regionally, such that documents and reports provided by this center are cited by international communities.
Mission
Pediatric Cardiovascular Research Center focuses its efforts on the use of available technology to conduct community-based and biomedical research and to help with transferring the results to useful and practical outcomes. This center also considers helping academic and research centers and other health service providers in implementing programs for the prevention, control, and treatment of Heart disease in children especially acquired heart disease, congenital heart diseases, their related risk factors and establishing congenital heart disease registry system in the country. Through its activities, this center promotes community health and quality of life and creates health policies and related decision-making by applying reliable research findings.
Affiliation:
Pediatric Cardiovascular Research Center, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
Members
Facilities
Services:
- Clinic for the prevention of heart disease in children
- Clinic for the prevention of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents
- Clinic of behavioral disorders in children with syncope
- Congenital heart disease registration
Center Equipment:
- Clinic of Pediatric Cardiovascular Research Center
- Laboratory of Isfahan Cardiovascular Institute