Quality of life in children with hypoplastic left heart syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
To measure quality of life in children with hypoplastic left heart syndrome and their families.


METHODS
A questionnaire exploring socioeconomic status, structure and function of networks and psychological well-being was completed by the families of all 18 patients older than 2 years (age range 2.7-10.6). The results were compared with those of 180 healthy Swedish children matched for age and sex.


RESULTS
There were no significant differences between the groups in any of the aspects of socioeconomic status. Study group parents had not more available time for their child (p < 0.05) and more separations/divorces (p < 0.01). The patients had lower self-esteem (p < 0.05), more psychosomatic symptoms (p < 0.01) [corrected] and lower peer acceptance (p < 0.01) than control children.


CONCLUSIONS
With regard to psychological well-being, quality of life was significantly lower in children with hypoplastic left heart syndrome than in healthy controls.
Mellander
M
M
Department of Pediatric Cardiology, The Queen Silvia Children's Hospital, Göteborg, University, Göteborg, Sweden. mats.mellander@vgregion.se
Berntsson
L
L
Nilsson
B
B
D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002658:Developmental Disabilities; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018636:Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011788:Quality of Life; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden