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Long-Term Health-Related Quality of Life following Acute Type A Aortic Dissection with a Focus on Male-Female
Frederike Meccanici1, Carlijn G E Thijssen1,2, Arjen L Gökalp3
1Department of Cardiology, Erasmus MC, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Journal of Clinical Medicine
|April 27, 2024
Summary
Long-term quality of life is impaired for patients after acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) surgery. Female patients and younger individuals experienced greater impacts on health-related quality of life (HRQoL).
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Surgery
- Quality of Life Research
- Aortic Diseases
Background:
- Acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) is a critical cardiovascular emergency.
- Long-term health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and sex-specific outcomes after ATAAD surgery are not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the long-term HRQoL in adult patients following ATAAD surgery.
- To identify differences in HRQoL between male and female ATAAD survivors.
- To compare HRQoL outcomes in ATAAD patients with the general population.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective study of adult ATAAD patients undergoing surgery between 2007-2017 in the Netherlands.
- Utilized the 36-Item Short-Form (SF-36) Health Survey administered to survivors (2019-2021).
- Compared patient scores to age- and sex-matched Dutch general population data.
Main Results:
- 58% of survivors (324/555) completed the SF-36, with a median follow-up of 6.5 years.
- ATAAD patients reported significantly lower HRQoL in 6/8 SF-36 domains and higher bodily pain compared to the general population.
- Younger patients (41-60 years) showed the most pronounced HRQoL impairment. Female patients scored worse than males on 5/8 domains and physical component summary (PCS) scores.
Conclusions:
- Long-term HRQoL is significantly impaired in both male and female ATAAD survivors.
- Younger patients and females warrant specific attention for HRQoL interventions post-ATAAD.
- Further research is needed to understand and improve HRQoL after ATAAD surgery.
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