Determinants of quality of life in children and adolescents with CHD: a systematic review

Abstract

Quality of life in children with CHD should be assessed according to age; severity; therapeutic approach; acceptance of the disease; and personality features. Effective management and early recognition of significant impairments in quality of life could impact clinical outcomes in children with CHD.

Predictors of health-related quality of life in children with chronic heart disease

“…More precisely, physical symptoms may impair the patient's psychological and social wellbeing and functioning; therefore, viewed together, these aspects can help increase an overall understanding of the disease. [36][37][38] Thus, multiple factors have to be considered when investigating health-related quality of life in children with CHD. 11 Previous health-related quality of life studies in patients with CHD described psychological, 1,32,39 psychosocial, 5,24,30 and medical variables 29,40 separately and their impact on healthrelated quality of life as well as specific dimensions of health-related quality of life.…”

“…46 Predictors and associated factors of psychosocial well-being were examined. 32,44 Drakouli et al 37 found in a systematic review that patients' quality of life was associated with more severe cardiac lesions. Children reported diminished quality of life after cardiac surgery concerning physical, psychosocial, emotional, and school functioning.…”

What determines the quality of life of adult patients after Fontan procedure?

“…Patients with well-controlled CHD (adult and children) were reported to have QOL comparable to that in healthy individuals [17]. However, the QOL in complex or cyanotic CHD is reportedly poor [18], it was also found that patient subjective QOL assessment was corroborated by objective laboratory and imaging results.…”

Factors affecting adolescents’ participation in randomized controlled trials evaluating the effectiveness of healthcare interventions: the case of the STEPSTONES project

“…Differences in quality of life and health status could also be a reason why patients with more severe conditions want to participate in a transition intervention. Several studies have shown that patients with moderate and severe complexity of CHD have a lower health related quality of life than patients with milder CHD (50)(51)(52). Moreover, adolescents with complex CHD experience lower self-reported health and physical functioning (53,54).…”