Premium
Neurodevelopmental outcome, psychological adjustment, and quality of life in adolescents with congenital heart disease
Author(s) -
Schaefer Christina,
Rhein Michael,
Knirsch Walter,
Huber Reto,
Natalucci Giancarlo,
Caflisch Jon,
Landolt Markus A,
Latal Beatrice
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
developmental medicine and child neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.658
H-Index - 143
eISSN - 1469-8749
pISSN - 0012-1622
DOI - 10.1111/dmcn.12242
Subject(s) - psychology , quality of life (healthcare) , cognition , heart disease , motor skill , developmental psychology , clinical psychology , pediatrics , medicine , psychiatry , psychotherapist
Aim The aim of this study was to examine neurodevelopment, psychological adjustment, and health‐related quality of life ( HRQ oL) in adolescents after bypass surgery for congenital heart disease ( CHD ) during early childhood. Method Fifty‐nine adolescents (34 females, 25 males) with CHD were examined at a median age of 13 years 8 months (range 11y 5mo–16y 11mo). Outcome was assessed with the W echsler I ntelligence S cale for C hildren, (fourth edition); the B eery Test of V isual‐ M otor I ntegration; the R ey– O sterrieth C omplex F igure T est; the Z urich N euromotor A ssessment; the S trengths and D ifficulties Q uestionnaire; and the KIDSCREEN questionnaires. Results were compared with those of 40 age‐ and sex‐matched healthy comparison individuals. Results Outcome with regard to full‐scale IQ , perceptual reasoning, and the working memory scale was poorer in patients with CHD than in the comparison group (all p ≤0.001). Visual perception, visuomotor integration ( p ≤0.001), and executive functions (Rey figure copy: p =0.05) were also affected. Patients with CHD also had lower scores on all motor domains ( p <0.02) except static balance. Psychological adjustment was affected only in the ‘peer relationship’ domain ( p =0.05). Quality of life was similar to that of typically developing peers. Interpretation Adolescents with CHD may manifest persistent cognitive and motor impairments, while psychological adjustment and self‐reported HRQ oL are mostly typical. Thus, long‐term neurodevelopmental evaluations are necessary to provide early educational and therapeutic support.