Quality of life of patients with congenital heart diseases

Abstract

Objectives: To assess the perception of the quality of life of adolescents and young adults with congenital heart disease and to examine the variables that have a negative impact on it and that add a resilience effect. Methods: A total of 22 male and 18 female patients, aged 12-26 years, of whom 27 were admitted to surgery and 13 were not, participated in this study. All patients had complete medical records and were interviewed once; demographic and clinical data were collected, and patients filled a questionnaire on quality of life, the WHOQOL-BREF, and underwent an interview on social support, educational style, self-image, functional limitations, and emotional adjustment. Results/Conclusions: Our patients showed a better perception of quality of life than did the general population, on the basis of psychological, social relationship and environment scales. Older patients hold a better perception of quality of life on the psychological scale. Cyanosis did not show any significant impact over perception of quality of life decay; however, the number of surgical procedures and the persistence of moderate-to-severe residual injuries had considerable detrimental effect. Social support had an impact on increasing resilience, promoting adjustment to illness. Several factors may play a role in adjustment to congenital heart disease, either improving the perception of quality of life or worsening it. We may conclude that some buffer variables on congenital heart disease may play roles in increasing the perception of quality of life of patients during their lifetime, social support probably explaining why the perception of quality of life is better than in the normal population. The number of surgeries and the moderate-to-severe residual injuries, however, reverted that effect.

Quality of Life and Congenital Heart Disease in Childhood and Adolescence

“…Silva et al 51 investigated the variables that would have a negative impact on the Quality of Live in adolescents and young adults with CHD, applying the WHOQoL-BREF tool, and found a better perception of QoL in this group when compared to the general population. The presence of cyanosis was not associated with worsening of QoL; however, the number of surgical procedures and moderate to severe residual lesions had a significant impact on it.…”

Quality‐of‐life research in adult patients with congenital heart disease: current status and the way forward

“…Inconsisting findings were observed regarding the relationship between QoL and age , sex , medication , disease severity and the severity of residual lesions . Finally, QoL has been reported to be unrelated to CHD subtypes , cyanosis , personal resources and the family environment .…”

“…The following correlates of poorer QoL among adults with CHD have been identified: lower academic performance and education , lower employment rates , fewer daily activities , worse functional status , lower exercise capacity , lower social support , cardiac surgery , being given an implantable cardioverter defibrillator , physical limitations and a distressed personality type . Inconsisting findings were observed regarding the relationship between QoL and age , sex , medication , disease severity and the severity of residual lesions . Finally, QoL has been reported to be unrelated to CHD subtypes , cyanosis , personal resources and the family environment .…”

Physical Exercise, Mental Health and Quality of Life in Esecs/Ipl

“…O WHOQOL-BREF tem, relativamente ao WHOQOL-100, a vantagem de reduzir a quantidade de tempo despendida, tanto por investigador como por sujeito, o que permite uma melhor adesão aos protocolos de investigação (Galesic & Bosnjak, 2009). As características psicométricas do instrumento têm revelado uma boa consistência interna Vaz Serra et al, 2006) tendo já sido utilizado em diversos trabalhos de investigação na população portuguesa (Macedo, 2012;Silva et al, 2011).…”