Medical test results do not tell the whole story: health-related quality of life offers a patient perspective on outcomes

Abstract

Children born today with congenital heart disease (CHD) are likely to reach adulthood, even those with complex disease. As survival rates have increased, attention has focused on the longer-term morbidity associated with CHD and its treatment, but this has largely addressed the physical and physiological outcomes rather than psychosocial morbidity and health-related quality of life (QoL). The purpose of this article is to outline the arguments in favor of routine evaluation of health-related QoL, describe how such measurements might be used, and the barriers and challenges associated with the collection of the data. Finally, a strategy is suggested for the routine collection and use of health-related QoL data with children and adolescents with CHD.

Keywords: congenital heart disease (CHD); morbidity); outcomes (includes mortality; pediatric; quality of life.