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Quality of life following paediatric heart transplant: are age and activity level factors?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 February 2014

John J. Parent ,
Lauren Sterrett ,
Randall Caldwell ,
Robert Darragh ,
Marcus Schamberger ,
Debbie Murphy  and
Eric Ebenroth
John J. Parent*
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, United States of America
Lauren Sterrett
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, United States of America
Randall Caldwell
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, United States of America
Robert Darragh
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, United States of America
Marcus Schamberger
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, United States of America
Debbie Murphy
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, United States of America
Eric Ebenroth
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, United States of America
*
Correspondence to: J. J. Parent, Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Indiana University School of Medicine, 705 Riley Hospital Drive, RR 127, Indianapolis, IN 46202, United States of America. Tel: +317 274 8906; Fax: +317 274 4022; E-mail: jjpaent@iu.edu
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Abstract

Background: We evaluated whether quality of life correlates to age and activity in children following heart transplantation. In addition, quality of life in children following heart transplantation was compared with previously reported values in children with congenital heart disease. Quality of life remains an important aspect of therapy. Methods: The Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory Generic Core Scales and Cardiac Module were administered to 14 children who had previously undergone heart transplantation. Patients wore a pedometer for 7 days to assess daily activity. Results: The age at assessment was 13.1±1.9 years. The patients were 7.1±5.7 years post heart transplantation. There was a negative correlation between age at first heart transplantation and emotional (r=−0.64; p<0.05) and school function (r=−0.57; p<0.05). A negative correlation between patient’s age at assessment and perceived physical appearance existed (r=−0.53; p<0.05). Daily steps negatively correlated with cognitive (r=−0.58; p<0.05), physical (r=−0.63; p<0.05), emotional (r=−0.62; p<0.05), and school function (r=−0.66; p<0.01). Heart transplantation patients reported better scores for treatment and symptoms (p<0.05) but lower physical health scores (p<0.01) than those with moderate congenital heart disease. Conclusions: Paediatric heart transplantation patients reported overall similar quality of life as patients with moderate congenital heart disease. Children receiving heart transplants at an older age may require additional emotional and educational support. Heart transplantation patients with higher activity levels may be more aware of their physical, emotional, and cognitive limitations, and thus score lower on these quality of life indicators.

Keywords

Heart transplantpaediatricschildrenquality of life
Type
Original Articles
Information
Cardiology in the Young , Volume 25 , Issue 3 , March 2015 , pp. 476 - 480
Copyright
© Cambridge University Press 2014 

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