title: Quality of life experienced by adolescents and young adults with congenital heart disease.
abstract: This study aimed to assess the quality of life (QOL) experienced by adolescents and young adults with congenital heart disease (CHD) and to determine which factors negatively affect adjustment and which factors increase resilience. The participants in the study were 74 patients with CHD (41 males and 33 females) ranging in age from 12 to 26 years (mean age, 18.76 ± 3.86 years). Demographic information and a complete clinical history were obtained. The participants were interviewed regarding topics such as social support, family educational style, self-image, and physical limitations. They responded to questions in a standardized psychiatric interview (SADS-L) and completed a self-report questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF) for assessment of QOL. Compared with the Portuguese population as a whole, the study patients had better QOL, especially with regard to the environmental dimension (t = 3.754; P = 0.000) and social relationships (t = 2.333; P = 0.022). Patients who had undergone surgery experienced poorer QOL in the physical dimension (t = -1.989; P = 0.050), in social relationships (t = -2.012; P = 0.048) and overall (Mann-Whitney U = 563.000; P = 0.037). Social support played a positive role in the QOL of the patients, both in the physical dimension (t = 3.287; P = 0.002) and in social relationships (t = 3.669; P = 0.000). A higher school achievement also was associated with higher levels of QOL overall (Mann-Whitney U = 457.000; P = 0.046) as well as in the physical (t = 2.045; P = 0.045) and environmental (t = 2.413; P = 0.018) dimensions. Physical limitations had a detrimental impact on general QOL (Mann-Whitney U = 947.500; P = 0.001) and on the physical (t = -2.910; p = 0.005) and psychological (t = -2,046; P = 0.044) dimensions. Patients with CHD tended to perceive QOL as better when their social networks were supportive.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Instituto Superior de Ciências da Saúde do Norte (CESPU), Rua Central de Gandra 1317, 585-116, Gandra PRD, Portugal.
authors.forename: Flávio Miguel
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Teixeira
authors.forename: Rosália Maria
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Coelho
authors.forename: Cidália
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Proença
authors.forename: Ana Margarida
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vieira
authors.forename: Cláudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vaz
authors.forename: Cláudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Moura
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Viana
authors.forename: José Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Areias
authors.forename: Maria Emília Guimarães
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Areias
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life; D012944:Social Support; D055815:Young Adult