Comparison of health related quality of life with cardiopulmonary exercise testing in adolescents and adults with congenital heart disease.
OBJECTIVE
To compare self reported quality of life with measured exercise capacity in patients with congenital heart disease.


METHODS
Prospective cross sectional clinical study.


METHODS
Tertiary referral centre for congenital cardiology.


METHODS
149 patients (60 female, 14-60 years old) with various congenital heart defects completed a health related quality of life questionnaire (medical outcomes study 36 item short form). Then they performed a cardiopulmonary exercise test on a bicycle in a sitting position.


RESULTS
Peak oxygen uptake correlated significantly with the physical functioning (r = 0.521, p < 0.0005) and general health scales (r = 0.313, p < 0.0005) but not with role-physical, bodily pain, vitality, social functioning, role-emotional, mental health, and health transition scales. Closer examination of the data showed that despite an overall good correlation a substantial number of patients overestimated their physical capabilities.


CONCLUSIONS
Exercise tests and quality of life instruments should be used together to get an appropriate overview of the health status of patients with congenital heart disease.
Hager
A
A
Department of Paediatric Cardiology and Congenital Heart Disease, Deutsches Herzzentrum München, Technische Universität München, Lazarettstrasse 36, D-80636 Munich, Germany. a-hager@web.de
Hess
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires