Key result
Surviving adults with univentricular heart reported a quality of life similar to the normal population, although factors like cyanosis and mitral atresia worsened perceived health.
Cross-Sectional (n=89)
No
Surviving adults with univentricular heart report a satisfying quality of life similar to the normal population, although specific clinical and sociodemographic factors like cyanosis and education level impact individual health measures.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Quality of life appears preserved in univentricular heart survivors; hypothesis-generating for cyanosis and mitral atresia effects, needing prospective confirmation.
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the quality of life in patients with univentricular heart and to determine the impact of sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. DESIGN AND SETTING Retrospective, cross sectional study conducted in a regional paediatric cardiology centre. PATIENTS The health records of 89 survivors with univentricular heart (median age 21 years; range 17–49 years) were reviewed. Sixty seven answered the Duke questionnaire. Sociodemographic and clinical variables were similar in the responders and non-responders. The impact of sociodemographic and clinical variables on individual Duke's measures was assessed. RESULTS The Duke scores of adults with univentricular heart were similar to the normal population. Cyanosis predicted a worse score for physical (p = 0.05) and perceived health measures (p = 0.02). A higher educational level predicted a better score for physical (p = 0.004), mental (p = 0.01), and general health measures (p = 0.02). Orthopaedic problems worsened the social score (p = 0.05). Psychosocial problems worsened the pain score (p = 0.04). In comparison with the other anatomical types, mitral atresia worsened the perceived health score (p = 0.02). Patients younger than 23 years scored better for almost all health and dysfunction measures. CONCLUSIONS Despite repeated interventions and other disease related everyday stresses, a selected group of adults with univentricular heart had a satisfying quality of life.
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Saliba et al. (2001) conducted a cross-sectional in Univentricular heart (n=89). Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics vs. Normal population was evaluated on Quality of life (Duke questionnaire scores). Surviving adults with univentricular heart reported a quality of life similar to the normal population, although factors like cyanosis and mitral atresia worsened perceived health.
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