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Quality of life of adult congenital heart disease patients: a systematic review of the literature

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 February 2013

Theodora Fteropoulli
Affiliation:
Centre for Health Services Research, School of Health Sciences, City University London, London, United Kingdom
Jan Stygall
Affiliation:
Centre for Health Services Research, School of Health Sciences, City University London, London, United Kingdom
Shay Cullen
Affiliation:
GUCH Unit, The Heart Hospital, University College of London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
John Deanfield
Affiliation:
GUCH Unit, The Heart Hospital, University College of London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
Stanton P. Newman*
Affiliation:
Centre for Health Services Research, School of Health Sciences, City University London, London, United Kingdom
*
Correspondence to: Professor S. P. Newman, D.Phil., MRCP(Hon), FBPS, Centre for Health Services Research, School of Health Sciences, City University, Northampton Square, London EC1 V 0HB, United Kingdom. Tel: +44 207 040 5767; Fax: +44 207 040 0875; E-mail: Stanton.Newman.1@city.ac.uk

Abstract

Aims

This review explores the quality of life of adult congenital heart disease patients and the relationship between disease severity and quality of life.

Methods

We searched seven electronic databases and the bibliography of articles. The 31 selected studies fulfilled the following criteria: adult population; quantitative; assessment of quality of life and/or impact of disease severity on quality of life using validated measures; English language. Data extraction forms were used to summarise the results.

Results

There are evident methodological limitations within the reviewed studies such as heterogeneous populations, designs, and quality of life conceptualisations and measurements. Despite these problems, findings suggest that the quality of life of adult congenital heart disease patients is compromised in the physical domain compared with their healthy counterparts, whereas no differences were found in relation to the psychosocial and environmental/occupational domain. Some severity variables appear to be significant correlates of quality of life and could be considered in a future standardised classification of disease severity.

Conclusion

The methodological limitations of past research in relation to the definition and measurement of quality of life, the study designs, and disease severity classifications need to be addressed in future studies in order to provide robust evidence and valid conclusions in this area of study. This will enable the development of targeted interventions for the improvement of quality of life in the adult population of congenital heart disease patients.

Type
Review Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2013 

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