Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 6, 2026
Implantation of Total Artificial Heart in Congenital Heart Disease
Published on: July 18, 2014
Life quality of children with congenital heart diseases
Tamay Sertçelik1, Fatoş Alkan2, Şermin Yalın Sapmaz3
1Department of Pediatrics, Celal Bayar University School of Medicine, Manisa, Turkey.
Insights
Congenital heart disease symptoms significantly impact psychosocial quality of life in children. Maternal and child mental health issues further diminish quality of life, more than disease severity alone.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Child Psychology
- Quality of Life Research
Background:
- Congenital heart disease (CHD) affects children's well-being.
- Understanding factors influencing quality of life (QoL) in these children is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate how CHD severity, symptoms, and associated emotional/behavioral problems impact children's QoL.
- To identify specific CHD-related factors and psychological symptoms affecting QoL.
Main Methods:
- Interviewed 80 children (6-16 years) with cyanotic or acyanotic CHD and their mothers.
- Utilized sociodemographic forms, QoL questionnaires, and the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire.
- QoL was the primary dependent variable.
Main Results:
- Cyanotic CHD, medical/surgical history, and dyspnea negatively affected QoL subscales.
- Increased psychological symptoms (Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire) correlated with lower QoL.
- Parental age, sex, and education did not significantly impact QoL.
Conclusions:
- CHD symptoms primarily affect psychosocial QoL, not physical aspects.
- Maternal and child mental health symptoms are significant negative predictors of QoL, outweighing disease parameters.
Aim:
We aimed to evaluate the effects of the severity and symptoms of congenital heart disease and the emotional and behavioral problems of affected children on their quality of life.
Material And Methods:
The study was performed by interviewing 80 children aged between 6 and 16 years (40 with cyanotic heart disease and 40 with acyanotic disease) and their mothers. A sociodemographic data form, quality of life questionnaire, strength and difficulties questionnaire, and family life and parenting attitudes scale were used in the research. Life quality was the dependent variable of this research.
Results:
No significant relation was found between age, sex, and education level of the parents and all quality of life subscale scores (p>0.05). In terms of quality of life, total quality of life subscale, emotional well-being and self-esteem subscales were significantly lower in children with cyanotic congenital heart disease (p=0.02, p=0.007, p=0.006, respectively). The total quality of life subscale was significantly lower in children with a medical treatment and surgical history. In terms of clinical symptoms, self-esteem, friendship and school life quality subscales were affected in the presence of dyspnea. As scores from strength and difficulties questionnaire increased, which is used for the assessment of children's psychological symptoms, all quality of life scores were significantly lowered except for school and family subscales.
Conclusion:
It was found that symptoms of congenital heart disease affected the psychosocial quality of life subscales rather than the physical subscales. In addition, it was observed that mental symptoms in both the mother and child negatively affected quality of life rather than disease-related parameters.
Related Concept Videos
02:42Half-life of a Reaction
01:23Rheumatic Heart Disease I: Introduction
01:17Ischemic Heart Disease: Overview
Atherosclerosis, the primary malefactor, orchestrates this dangerous condition. It manifests as the accumulation of fatty deposits, akin to insidious plaques, within arterial walls. As time elapses, these plaques metamorphose, hardening and...
01:23Characteristics of Life
02:39The Angiosperm Life Cycle
01:21Rheumatic Heart Disease III: Medical Management