Quality of life and perceived health status in surviving adults with univentricular heart.
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.
Saliba
Z
Z
Service de Cardiologie Pédiatrique and Institut de Cardiologie Congénitale des Adultes, Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades, 149 rue de Sèvres, 75743 Paris Cedex 15, France.
Butera
G
G
Bonnet
D
D
Bonhoeffer
P
P
Villain
E
E
Kachaner
J
J
Sidi
D
D
Iserin
L
L
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