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. 2009 Jan 22:9:6.
doi: 10.1186/1471-2431-9-6.

Psychological adjustment and quality of life in children and adolescents following open-heart surgery for congenital heart disease: a systematic review

Beatrice Latal  1 , Susanne Helfricht, Joachim E Fischer, Urs Bauersfeld, Markus A Landolt
Affiliations

Psychological adjustment and quality of life in children and adolescents following open-heart surgery for congenital heart disease: a systematic review

Beatrice Latal et al. BMC Pediatr. .

Abstract

Background: Children with congenital heart defects (CHD) requiring open-heart surgery are a group at high risk for health-related sequelae. Little consensus exists regarding their long-term psychological adjustment (PA) and health-related quality of life (QoL). Thus, we conducted a systematic review to determine the current knowledge on long-term outcome in this population.

Methods: We included randomized controlled trials, case control, or cohort studies published between 1990-2008 evaluating self- and proxy-reported PA and QoL in patients aged between two and 17 years with a follow-up of at least two years after open heart surgery for CHD.

Results: Twenty-three studies assessing psychological parameters and 12 studies assessing QoL were included. Methodological quality of the studies varied greatly with most studies showing a moderate quality. Results were as follows: (a) A considerable proportion of children experienced psychological maladjustment according to their parents; (b) studies on self-reported PA indicate a good outcome; (c) the studies on QoL suggest an impaired QoL for some children in particular for those with more severe cardiac disease; (d) parental reports of psychological maladjustment were related to severity of CHD and developmental delay.

Conclusion: A significant proportion of survivors of open-heart surgery for CHD are at risk for psychological maladjustment and impaired QoL. Future research needs to focus on self-reports, QoL data and adolescents.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Overview of inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Overview of methodological quality rating criteria for included studies.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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