title: Follow-up of tetralogy of Fallot patients: tertiary centre versus satellite clinic.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Canadian Cardiovascular Society consensus guidelines recommend that tetralogy of Fallot patients be seen by a congenital cardiologist every 2 years. In Atlantic Canada, tetralogy of Fallot patients are followed up at either tertiary or satellite clinics, which are held in the community and attended by paediatric cardiologists. The effectiveness of satellite clinics in congenital cardiac disease follow-up is unproven. Our objective was to compare patient-reported quality of life measures to determine whether these were impacted by the site of follow-up.
  
  
  METHODS
  We included patients with tetralogy of Fallot undergoing surgical repair at the Izaak Walton Killam Health Centre from 1 November, 1972 to 31 May, 2002. Quality of life surveys, SF-10 or SF-36v2, were administered to consenting patients. We analysed the subjective health status by patient age and site of follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 184 eligible patients, 72 were lost to follow-up. Of the locatable patients, 61% completed the questionnaires. In all, 90% (101 out of 112) were followed up at recommended intervals. Of the 112 (68%) patients, 76 were followed up at a tertiary clinic. These patients were older, with a mean age of 18.4 years versus 14.7 years, and scored higher on the SF-36 physical component summary (52.6 versus 45.7, p = 0.02) compared with satellite clinic patients. The SF-36 mental component summary scores were similar for patients regardless of the site of follow-up. SF-10 physical and psychosocial scores were similar regardless of the site of follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tetralogy of Fallot patients followed at either satellite or tertiary clinics have similar subjective health status.
authors: Faculty of Medicine, Department of Surgery, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. camillehf@hotmail.com
authors: Camille L Hancock
authors: CL
authors: Friesen
authors: Mark
authors: M
authors: Robertson
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Liu
authors: Haley
authors: H
authors: Burton
authors: Katherine
authors: K
authors: Fleming
authors: Simon
authors: S
authors: Jackson
authors: Andrew E
authors: AE
authors: Warren
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D002648:Child; D003151:Community Health Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006779:Hospitals, Public / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D059012:Lost to Follow-Up; D008297:Male; D009674:Nova Scotia; D011379:Prognosis; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013771:Tetralogy of Fallot / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D055815:Young Adult