The importance of socio-demographic factors for the quality of life of adults with congenital heart disease.
OBJECTIVE
We conducted a study to measure the associations of socio-demographic factors with quality of life outcomes among adults with congenital heart disease (CHD).


METHODS
Results are drawn from a questionnaire-based survey in 676 adults with CHD and compared to age and sex-matched controls of a representative national survey. Subjective outcomes were measured as health-related quality of life (hrQoL), health and life satisfaction. The associations of the subjective well-being with the degree of severity of the underlying heart defect and socio-demographic factors such as educational and employment status were quantified in multiple linear regression models.


RESULTS
A significant correlation of the degree of severity of the heart defect was limited to the physical scale of the hrQoL, whereas for the mental scale of the hrQoL and the satisfaction scales, socio-demographic factors showed a stronger association. Furthermore, the associations of socio-demographic factors and subjective well-being were stronger in the patient group than in the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
Socio-demographic factors can be significantly associated with the subjective well-being of adults with CHD. In order to assist the surgical successes of the past decades, which have ensured the survival of most of these patients into adulthood, increased attention should be paid to these domains in the care of adults with CHD.
Competence Network for Congenital Heart Defects, Deutsches Herzzentrum Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353, Berlin, Germany.
Matthäus
M
Vigl
Eva
E
Niggemeyer
Alfred
A
Hager
Gerda
G
Schwedler
Siegfried
S
Kropf
Ulrike
U
Bauer
D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000191:economics* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult