title: Similar quality of life after heart valve replacement with mechanical or bioprosthetic valves.
abstract: The goal of this study was to determine if there was a difference in the quality of life (QoL) between patients receiving bioprosthetic (Biocor, BIO) or mechanical (St. Jude Medical, SJM) valve prosthesis. In January 1993 we assessed the psychological outcome of heart valve surgery among 183 (87 BIO, 96 SJM) of 220 survivors in a selected and matched cohort of 140 BIO and 140 SJM recipients who had their valve replacement between 1983 and 1989. The BIO and SJM groups were equal in terms of mean age, gender, valve position, educational level, marital status and follow up time. Questions concerning QoL, in terms of coping capacity, social support, and general emotional status as well as emotions concerning valve-related complications, were answered by the patients marking a non-graded visual analogous scale, ranging from total agreement to total disagreement. We found no significant difference between patients receiving BIO and those receiving SJM prostheses regarding coping capacity (62 +/- 2 vs. 65 +/- 2), social support (77 +/- 3 vs. 76 +/- 2), or emotional status (63 +/- 3 vs. 65 +/- 3). When subdividing patients by age below and above 60 years, gender, functional class, valve position and complication, we found several significant differences, but the two prosthetic groups were largely similar. Females had a significantly lower level of coping capacity and emotional status than males. Coping capacity and emotional status were significantly correlated with functional class, while social support was not. Coping capacity tended to be lower among patients who had experienced complications and this was more pronounced with BIO.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg, Sweden.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Myken
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Larsson
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Larsson
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Berggren
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Caidahl
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001705:Bioprosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D008875:Middle Aged; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D011788:Quality of Life; D012647:Self-Assessment; D012737:Sex Factors; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome