Lifestyles and determinants of perceived health in Italian grown-up/adult congenital heart patients: a cross-sectional and pan-national survey

Abstract

ObjectivesTo provide the first epidemiological lifestyle descriptions of the Italian grown-up/adult congenital heart disease (GUCH/ACHD) population by identifying the determinants of poor perceived health status.DesignCross-sectional pan-national survey.SettingItalian GUCH/ACHD patients who were members of the Italian Association of GUCH/ACHD.Primary and secondary outcome measuresTo discuss these lifestyle descriptions through an ad hoc developed questionnaire and health perceptions (ie, mental and physical health perception) through a short form health survey (SF-12).Results629 patients included; many investigated GUCH/ACHD lifestyles were determined similar to those of the general population — with the exception of the smoking habits, which were lower. The odds of the occurrence of inadequate physical health perceptions increased by more than two times in patients undergoing antiarrhythmic therapies (OR adjusted=2.045; 95% CI=1.201 to 3.479; p=0.008; n=629), more than 1.5 times in patients taking oral anticoagulants (OR adjusted=1.638; 95% CI=1.038 to 2.585; p=0.034; n=629) and roughly 1.7 times in patients treated with antiplatelets (OR adjusted=1.743; 95% CI=1.024 to 2.966; p=0.041; n=629). The odds of the occurrence of inadequate mental health perceptions increased by 1.7% for every year that the patients aged (OR adjusted=1.017; 95% CI=1.002 to 1.032; p=0.025; n=629).ConclusionParticular attention should be paid to these ageing patients’ increasing psychological needs, and additional research is needed to identify associations between their lifestyles and clinical outcomes.

Is SF-12 a valid and reliable measurement of health-related quality of life among adults with Marfan syndrome? A confirmatory study

“…Finally, considering the summary scores derived from this study, we noticed that the mean score of PCS12 (mean = 45.93; SD = 10.79) was lower than the PCS12 recently reported in Italian patients with an equivalent age distribution and affected moderate or complex congenital heart diseases [PCS12 mean score = 48.69; SD PCS12 = 8.96; MCS12 mean score = 45.56; SD MCS12 = 10.99) [33]. Conversely, the mean score of MCS12 reported in this study (mean = 45.41; SD = 10.17) was similar to the one reported in adults with moderate or complex congenital heart diseases (mean = 45.56; SD = 10.99) [33].…”

Determinants of health-related quality of life: a cross-sectional investigation in physician-managed anticoagulated patients using vitamin K antagonists

“…It encompasses physical component summary (PCS12), and mental component summary (MCS12) using a standardized score ranging from 0 to 100, wherein higher value indicates a more favorable health perception. According with previous research [37], it is possible to dichotomize the scores through an adequate versus an inadequate HRQoL if we consider the median split strategy [34] acknowledging that the median scores of general Italian population, clustered by different age ranges, were previously published [38]. In this study, both components showed adequate internal consistency with Cronbach's α equal to 0.699 for PCS12 and 0.687 for MCS12.…”

Exploring the lived experiences of pregnancy and early motherhood in Italian women with congenital heart disease: an interpretative phenomenological analysis

“…Overall, more than 85% of children with CHD live to adulthood due to the advancements in medical and surgical treatments 7. Accordingly, literature has emphasised the need for children with CHD to have a smooth and evidence-based transition from childhood to adulthood in order to optimise their quality of life as adults, as well as to prevent health-related risks associated with individual lifestyles 8–10. Recently, it was reported that the lifestyles of Italian adults with CHD are comparable to the lifestyles of the general population, including in relation to the prevalence of unhealthy behaviours, such as smoking or recreational drug consumptions 10.…”

“…Accordingly, literature has emphasised the need for children with CHD to have a smooth and evidence-based transition from childhood to adulthood in order to optimise their quality of life as adults, as well as to prevent health-related risks associated with individual lifestyles 8–10. Recently, it was reported that the lifestyles of Italian adults with CHD are comparable to the lifestyles of the general population, including in relation to the prevalence of unhealthy behaviours, such as smoking or recreational drug consumptions 10. The similarities of the unhealthy lifestyles between adults with CHD and the general population are also relevant to the challenges faced by women with CHD during pregnancy and after childbirth 11…”

“…A sound case management approach requires a clear understanding of the patients’ in-depth experiences during pregnancy and early motherhood 9 18. While the experiences of pregnant women with non-congenital cardiac disease appears to be sufficiently described, the literature has historically paid very little attention to the study of the multiple physical and psychological challenges that are experienced by women with CHD in pregnancy and early motherhood 10. For instance, Claessens et al 19 highlighted that women with CHD struggled with themselves and their environment to be accepted as normal by the family members and healthcare providers.…”