title: Health-related Quality of Life in children and adolescents after invasive treatment for congenital heart disease.
abstract: Since the 1980s treatment techniques for congenital heart disease (ConHD) have gradually evolved. Therefore, actual information on the outcomes, including quality of life is required. Health-related quality of life was assessed long-term in four diagnostic groups of children, who underwent invasive treatment for ConHD between 1990 and 1995. The scores on the TNO-AZL Child Quality of Life Questionnaire (TACQOL) of both children with ConHD and their parents were compared with those of a same-aged reference group. The total sample of ConHD children (n = 113, 8-15 years old) obtained significantly lower mean scores on motor functioning, cognitive functioning, and positive emotional functioning than reference peers, reflecting an experience of poorer functioning. ConHD children, aged 8-11 years, obtained lower mean scores on 5 of the 7 TACQOL scales than reference peers. They also had a lower score on positive emotional functioning than 12- to 15-year-old ConHD children. The total sample of ConHD children obtained lower outcomes compared to their parents on 4 of the 7 TACQOL scales. No significant differences were found in health-related quality of life between ConHD boys and girls, neither between different diagnostic groups. Overall, this sample of recently treated ConHD children showed a worse health-related quality of life compared to reference groups. These findings deserve further attention.
authors: Department of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Erasmus Medical Centre, Sophia Children's Hospital, 3000 CB, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: A W
authors: AW
authors: Spijkerboer
authors: E M W J
authors: EM
authors: Utens
authors: W B
authors: WB
authors: De Koning
authors: A J J C
authors: AJ
authors: Bogers
authors: W A
authors: WA
authors: Helbing
authors: F C
authors: FC
authors: Verhulst