Z. El Abasse*, A. Drighil and S. Ejjebli
Background: Patients with congenital heart disease have a limited quality of life due to their heart condition and to surgical complications and interventional therapy. Many of them require further medical care and surgery or catheterization during adulthood to treat residual lesions or complications. The objective of this study was to evaluate how congenital heart disease influences schooling and employment in adult CHD patients and analyze the quality of life of patients with various heart conditions.
Methods: We prospectively included 492 consecutive adults with CHD who were followed in CHD unity. From October 2008 to July 2019 and one hundred healthy control subjects voluntarily participated in the study and were enrolled from high schools, universities and companies in Casablanca. The assessment of socio-demographic factors was performed using a questionnaire. Were covered education level, employment status and physical activity. A Linear Analogue Scale (LAS) was employed to assess quality of life among those patients.
Results: Fifty eight percent of patients having a moderate quality of life, 19% having a poor quality of life and 23% of patients report having a good quality of life. The group of patients with a good quality of life appeared to have a higher educational level than the other groups of patients. Patients categorized as having a good quality of life more often had a university degree than patients categorized as having a moderate quality of life.
According to the classification of Bethesda heart disease was simple in 42% of our patients, moderate in 50% and complex in 8% of patients. Diagnosis of the CHD was made during adulthood in 62% of patients. Complex CHD were mainly diagnosed during childhood. Patients with an unstable heart condition and patients with a worse NYHA functional class reported a poorer quality of life, with the highest proportion in the poor quality-of-life cluster.
In terms of employment status, patients who were unemployed or disabled more frequently had moderate or poor quality of life. By contrast, students were more likely to report a good quality of life.
Seventy-three percent of men and 65% of women followed for CHD were married. The marriage rate in patients with complex CHD was 37%. No physical activity was declared by 39% of our patients; 66% of patients with complex CHD had no physical activity versus 34% of patients with simple CHD 40% of patients with moderate CHD.
Conclusion: Good quality of life associated a higher educational level (university). Vocational high school was more frequently associated with patients in the moderate or poor quality-of-life. In terms of employment status, patients who were unemployed or disabled more frequently had moderate or poor quality of life. Patients with a worse NYHA functional class reported a poorer quality of life.
Published Date: 2023-10-05; Received Date: 2023-09-12
