Autor(es):
Teixeira, Flávio 
; Coelho, Rosália ; Proença, Cidália ; Silva, Ana ; Vieira, Daniela ; Vaz, Cláudia ; Moura, Cláudia ; Viana, Victor ; Areias, José ; Areias, Maria
Data: 2011
Identificador Persistente: http://hdl.handle.net/10216/61852
Origem: Repositório Aberto da Universidade do Porto
Assunto(s): Ciências da Saúde
Descrição
This study aimed to assess the quality of life (QOL) experienced by adolescents and young adults with
congenital heart disease (CHD) and to determine which
factors negatively affect adjustment and which factors
increase resilience. The participants in the study were 74
patients with CHD (41 males and 33 females) ranging in age
from 12 to 26 years (mean age, 18.76 ± 3.86 years).
Demographic information and a complete clinical history
were obtained. The participants were interviewed regarding
topics such as social support, family educational style, selfimage, and physical limitations. They responded to questions in a standardized psychiatric interview (SADS-L) and completed a self-report questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF)
for assessment of QOL. Compared with the Portuguese
population as a whole, the study patients had better QOL,
especially with regard to the environmental dimension
(t = 3.754; P = 0.000) and social relationships (t = 2.333;
P = 0.022). Patients who had undergone surgery experienced
poorer QOL in the physical dimension (t = -1.989; P = 0.050), in social relationships (t = -2.012; P =0.048) and overall (Mann–Whitney U = 563.000; P =0.037). Social support played a positive role in the QOL of the patients, both in the physical dimension (t = 3.287; P = 0.002) and in social relationships (t = 3.669; P =0.000). A higher school achievement also was associated with higher levels of QOL overall (Mann–Whitney U = 457.000; P = 0.046) as well as in the physical (t = 2.045; P = 0.045) and environmental (t = 2.413; P = 0.018) dimensions. Physical limitations had a detrimental impact on general QOL (Mann–Whitney U = 947.500; P = 0.001) and on the physical (t = -2.910; p = 0.005) and psychological (t = -2,046; P = 0.044) dimensions. Patients with CHD tended to perceive QOL as better when their social networks were supportive.
