title: Quality of life in adolescents and young adults with CHD is not reduced: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies assessing quality of life in adolescents and young adults born with CHD compared with age-matched controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  We carried out a systematic search of the literature published in Medline, Embase, PsychINFO, and the Cochrane Library's Database (1990-2013); two authors independently extracted data from the included studies. We used the Newcastle-Ottawa scale for quality assessment of studies. A random effects meta-analysis model was used. Heterogeneity was assessed using the I2-test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We included 18 studies with 1786 patients. The studies were of acceptable-to-good quality. The meta-analysis of six studies on quality of life showed no significant difference - mean difference: -1.31; 95% confidence intervals: -6.51 to +3.89, I2=90.9% - between adolescents and young adults with CHD and controls. Similar results were found in 10 studies not eligible for the meta-analysis. In subdomains, it seems that patients had reduced physical quality of life; however, social functioning was comparable or better compared with controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  For the first time in a meta-analysis, we have shown that quality of life in adolescents and young adults with CHD is not reduced when compared with age-matched controls.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine,Center of Adolescent Medicine,Rigshospitalet,University of Copenhagen,Copenhagen,Denmark.
authors.forename: Morten
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schrøder
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine,Center of Adolescent Medicine,Rigshospitalet,University of Copenhagen,Copenhagen,Denmark.
authors.forename: Kirsten A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Boisen
authors.affiliation: 2Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine,Section of Pediatric Cardiology,Rigshospitalet,University of Copenhagen,Copenhagen,Denmark.
authors.forename: Jesper
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Reimers
authors.affiliation: 3Department of Pediartric and Adolescent Medicine,Nordsjællands Hospital,University of Copenhagen,Hillerød,Denmark.
authors.forename: Grete
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Teilmann
authors.affiliation: 4Department of Paediatric and Adolescent Medicine,Rigshospitalet,University of Copenhagen,Copenhagen,Denmark.
authors.forename: Jesper
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brok
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D064887:Observational Studies as Topic; D011788:Quality of Life; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: CHD; adolescents; outcome; quality of life; young adults