Physical, social, and emotional impact on patients with congenital heart disease undergoing cardiac catheterization.

Introduction: The management of congenital heart disease (CHD) has evolved, improving patient outcomes; however, challenges persist for patients, emphasizing the importance of assessing health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The widely used Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory underscores the relevance of HRQoL assessment, especially in children subject to medical procedures.

Objective: To evaluate HRQoL in children with congenital heart disease undergoing cardiac catheterization, analysing its association with clinical and sociodemographic variables in a tertiary care hospital.

Materials And Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study in paediatric patients aged 2-18 years undergoing haemodynamic procedures for congenital heart diseases. We used the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) to assess HRQoL. The statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, χ tests, Kruskal-Wallis tests and multivariate linear regression analysis with the aim of identifying factors associated with HRQoL.

Results: The sample included 164 patients, among whom pulmonary atresia and patent ductus arteriosus were frequent diagnoses. Physical functioning and school functioning were significantly impaired, with median scores of 32.14 (IQR, 17.14-62.87) and 56 (IQR, 28-88), respectively. The results were more favourable for emotional functioning and social functioning, with median scores of 62 (IQR, 32-74) and 68 (IQR, 44-100), respectively. Single ventricle defects and pulmonary atresia were associated with lower quality of life scores in emotional functioning (P = .035) and physical functioning (P = .048), respectively.

Conclusion: This study highlights the current challenges in evaluating HRQoL for children with CHD. It identified significant associations between specific diagnoses and decreased HRQoL scores, emphasizing the need for comprehensive care strategies.