Difficulties With Executive Function Are Associated With Risky Health Behaviors Among Young Adult Congenital Heart Defect Survivors.

The study was cross-sectional, so it cannot show whether executive function difficulties came before risky health behaviors, after them, or were influenced by a third factor. Health behaviors and executive function were measured by self-report, which may underestimate risky behaviors and may not match objective testing of executive function. Participants were already engaged in cardiology follow-up, so the sample may not represent CHD survivors lost to follow-up or attending other care. Some young adults from the larger study did not have complete data for these analyses, and it is unknown whether they differed from those included. There was no comparison group of adults without CHD, so it is unknown whether the associations are specific to CHD. The sample was mostly White, so findings may not generalize to the broader U.S. population of adults with CHD.

The article is listed as receiving N.I.H. extramural research support. The supplied text does not include an author conflict-of-interest declaration.

Do not conclude that improving executive function will reduce tobacco use or saturated fat intake. The study was cross-sectional and used self-report, so it shows links only, not cause or treatment effect.