Abstract
Background
After the Fontan procedure patients are at risk for reduced quality of life (QoL)
and cognitive function. We aimed to assess these important factors in Danish Fontan
patients and to compare the results with a group of healthy controls.
Methods
All Fontan patients living in Denmark were identified and invited to participate.
QoL was evaluated using the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) version 4.0
generic core module in patients <16 years and the Short Form 36 questionnaire (SF-36) in patients ≥16 years. Cognitive function was evaluated in all patients ≥6 years using the Quick Test of Cognitive Speed. To evaluate if QoL correlated with
exercise capacity, patients performed a symptom-limited bicycle test.
Results
158 of 179 eligible patients (88%) consented to participate. Median age was 13.9 years (IQR: 10.2–19.3). PedsQL scores increased with age but were significantly lower
among patients than among controls. SF-36 physical scores were significantly lower
in patients compared to controls while psychosocial scores were similar. Cognitive
speed was significantly reduced in patients at all ages compared to controls. No significant
difference in PedsQL-/SF-36 scores or cognitive speed was found between hypoplastic
left heart syndrome (HLHS) and non-HLHS Fontan patient. PedsQL-/SF-36 scores in patients
≥10 years correlated significantly to cognitive speed but not to peak exercise capacity.
Conclusion
QoL is reduced in Fontan children compared to their healthy counterparts whereas in
patients ≥16 years only physical, but not psychosocial QoL is reduced. Cognitive speed was significantly
lower in patients at all ages compared to controls.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: April 29, 2013
Accepted:
April 4,
2013
Received in revised form:
March 22,
2013
Received:
January 3,
2013
Footnotes
☆Grant support: The Danish Register of Congenital Heart Disease sponsored by the Danish Children's Heart Foundation, the Aase and Ejnar Danielsen's Foundation, the Wholesaler Sigurd Abrahamson and wife Addie Abrahamson's Foundation, the Beckett Foundation, the Danish Medical Research Council, and the Research Council of Department of Cardiology, Rigshospitalet.
Identification
Copyright
© 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
