title: Quality of life and perceived health status in surviving adults with univentricular heart.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the quality of life in patients with univentricular heart and to determine the impact of sociodemographic and clinical characteristics.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective, cross sectional study conducted in a regional paediatric cardiology centre.
  
  
  METHODS
  The health records of 89 survivors with univentricular heart (median age 21 years; range 17-49 years) were reviewed. Sixty seven answered the Duke questionnaire. Sociodemographic and clinical variables were similar in the responders and non-responders. The impact of sociodemographic and clinical variables on individual Duke's measures was assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The Duke scores of adults with univentricular heart were similar to the normal population. Cyanosis predicted a worse score for physical (p = 0.05) and perceived health measures (p = 0.02). A higher educational level predicted a better score for physical (p = 0.004), mental (p = 0.01), and general health measures (p = 0.02). Orthopaedic problems worsened the social score (p = 0.05). Psychosocial problems worsened the pain score (p = 0.04). In comparison with the other anatomical types, mitral atresia worsened the perceived health score (p = 0.02). Patients younger than 23 years scored better for almost all health and dysfunction measures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite repeated interventions and other disease related everyday stresses, a selected group of adults with univentricular heart had a satisfying quality of life.
authors: Service de Cardiologie Pédiatrique and Institut de Cardiologie Congénitale des Adultes, Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades, 149 rue de Sèvres, 75743 Paris Cedex 15, France.
authors: Z
authors: Z
authors: Saliba
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Butera
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Bonnet
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Bonhoeffer
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Villain
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Kachaner
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Sidi
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Iserin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000523:psychology*; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000002:abnormalities; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires