Evaluation of quality of life in patients with congenital heart disease: an observational case control study.

Quality of life (QoL) has become an important issue in patients with congenital heart disease (CHD). Accordingly, the focus has shifted from mere survival to a better QoL. The objective of this study is to assess QoL, by examining the World Health Organization QoL-bref (WHOQoL-BREF) questionnaire, in patients with CHD and a control population of a same geographic area matched for age, sex, cardiovascular risk factors and educational level.

The effect of physical activity on quality of life and serum glucose and cholesterol levels in patients with congenital heart disease.

As physical activity contributes to quality of life and health, we evaluated its association, as measured by the Global physical activity (GPAQ) questionnaire, on the quality of life (QoL) and serum glucose and cholesterol levels of patients with congenital heart disease (CHD). This cross-sectional study was carried out in 200 adult patients with CHD (17 to 58 years old), of whom 45 had simple defects, 122 moderate defects and 33 great anatomical complexity defects. Physiological complexity was defined as stage A in 74 patients, stage B in 29, stage C in 86 and stage D in 11.

Proteinuria versus albuminuria in 24-hour urine collection: prevalence and clinical outcome in non-hypoxemic adult patients with congenital heart disease.

Congenital heart disease (CHD) patients, especially cyanotic ones, usually have renal function impairment. However, little information exists in non-cyanotic CHD patients. The objective of this study is to determine renal failure in non-hypoxemic CHD patients by measuring the amount of protein and albumin released in urine over a 24-hour period and determining the glomerular filtration rate (GFR).

Mediterranean diet adherence in patients with congenital heart disease.

The Mediterranean diet, based on a rural life where people ate what they grew, has shown cardiovascular benefits. Cross-sectional study of congenital heart disease (CHD) patients recruited consecutively from a single hospital outpatient clinic with the aim of determining their adherence to the Mediterranean diet according to the PREDIMED questionnaire. CHD complexity was categorized as simple, moderate, or great and demographic, clinical and blood test data were recorded.

Malnutrition is independently associated with an increased risk of major cardiovascular events in adult patients with congenital heart disease.

Background And Aims: Malnutrition is found frequently during chronic diseases, and its prevalence and relation to disease outcome in adult patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) remains unknown.

Methods And Results: A cohort of 393 consecutive stable congenital heart disease (CHD) patients was followed up in a single dedicated clinical unit. Demographic, clinical and laboratory parameters, along with a nutritional risk index (NRI), were studied, as well as major acute cardiovascular events (MACE), defined as arterial thrombotic events, heart failure requiring hospitalization or cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular mortality.

Red blood cell distribution width in addition to N-terminal prohormone of B-type natriuretic peptide concentration improves assessment of risk of cardiovascular events in adult patients with congenital heart disease.

Background: Red blood cell distribution width (RDW) is a predictor of adverse outcomes in patients with heart disease.

Aim: To establish predictors of high RDW values in patients with congenital heart disease (CHD), and their relationship with cardiovascular events.

Methods: Overall, 561 patients with stable CHD who attended a single outpatient clinic and a matched control population of 2128 patients were studied.