Predictors of warfarin non-adherence in younger adults after valve replacement surgery in the South Pacific.

Objectives: Globally, mechanical valves are predominant as replacements for adolescents and younger adults with rheumatic heart disease (RHD). Mechanical valve implantation necessitates lifelong antithrombotic management (warfarin) and associated lifestyle modification, with event-free survival largely dependent on international normalised therapeutic ratios (INRs) remaining within the target therapeutic range. There is limited information on factors that may influence warfarin adherence among younger people or those in resource-limited settings.

Health-related quality of life of patients after mechanical valve replacement surgery: an integrative review.

Background: Heart valve replacement surgery is undertaken to improve cardiac function and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Mechanical valves are typically used for younger people (aged <65 years). Implantation of these valves comes with life-long health self-management requirements which potentially impact on HRQoL.

Health-related quality of life of patients after mechanical valve replacement surgery for rheumatic heart disease in a developing country.

Objective: To evaluate the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of people in Fiji (n=128) undergoing heart valve replacement (VR) surgery for rheumatic heart disease (RHD), conducted by Open Heart International.

Methods: Patients who had undergone surgery from 1991 to 2009 (n=72) and patients undergoing surgery for the years 2010-2012 (n=56) were surveyed prospectively, preoperatively and/or postoperatively (the mean follow-up time 5.9 years) using the standard recall Short-Form 36, V.