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Quality of Life in Adult Congenital Heart Disease: What Do We Already Know and What Do We Still Need To Know?

  • Congenital Heart Disease (J Deanfield, Section Editor)
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Abstract

Quality of life (QOL) is a key outcome in patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) because CHD has become a chronic condition accompanied by lifelong impairments. Recently, published studies on QOL in adults with CHD have reported inconsistent findings. Patients’ QOL seems to depend on multiple factors and is not solely determined by their heart defect and various medical or demographic characteristics. For instance, evidence suggests that a strong sense of coherence might be an important pathway to improve QOL. However, studies on QOL and its determinants are characterized by important methodological differences and limitations, making it impossible to draw firm conclusions. To fill the gaps in the current evidence base, longitudinal and international research is needed. Furthermore, the research field on QOL in CHD should move on from observational studies to interventional research to guide health professionals in improving QOL.

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Conflict of Interest

Silke Apers, Koen Luyckx, and Philip Moons declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Health Services and Nursing Research, KU Leuven Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Kapucijnenvoer 35, Box 7001, 3000, Leuven, Belgium

    Silke Apers & Philip Moons

  2. School Psychology and Child and Adolescent Development, KU Leuven, Tiensestraat 102, Box 3717, 3000, Leuven, Belgium

    Koen Luyckx

  3. Research Foundation Flanders, Brussels, Belgium

    Koen Luyckx

  4. Division of Congenital and Structural Cardiology, University Hospitals Leuven, KU Leuven Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Leuven, Belgium

    Philip Moons

  5. The Heart Centre, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Philip Moons

Authors
  1. Silke Apers
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  2. Koen Luyckx
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  3. Philip Moons
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Philip Moons.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Congenital Heart Disease

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Apers, S., Luyckx, K. & Moons, P. Quality of Life in Adult Congenital Heart Disease: What Do We Already Know and What Do We Still Need To Know?. Curr Cardiol Rep 15, 407 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11886-013-0407-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11886-013-0407-x

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