Quality of Life of Patients Undergoing Heart Valve Interventions: An Integrative Review of Studies Using the 36-Item...

Valvular heart disease represents a significant burden on global health, and its impact on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is increasingly recognized in clinical decision-making. This integrative review synthesized outcomes measured with the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). A structured PubMed search was conducted in November-December 2024 and updated in September 2025; studies published from 2014 onward that reported SF-36 after heart valve interventions were included. Twelve studies met the criteria, spanning surgical and transcatheter approaches and both mechanical and biological prostheses. Across studies, early (≤1 month) improvements were evident, with the largest gains typically in physical domains. Mid-term (six to 12 months) improvements were generally sustained, and differences between transcatheter and surgical approaches tended to attenuate, with no consistent between-group differences by six to 12 months in studies reporting adjusted comparisons. Age-related patterns were observed: older patients started lower and showed smaller absolute gains in physical domains, while mental health changes were more modest and often comparable across ages. Findings comparing mechanical versus biological valves were heterogeneous and likely influenced by confounding (age, comorbidity, anticoagulation). Longer-term (>12 months) trajectories remain uncertain due to limited longitudinal data. Limitations include the single-database search restricted to English-language and free full-text articles, variability in follow-up windows and reporting, and the absence of a formal meta-analysis or risk-of-bias grading. Despite these constraints, current evidence indicates that heart valve interventions improve HRQOL, supporting shared decision-making and the need for standardized time points, adjusted analyses, and longer follow-up to refine comparative inferences.