Castiglione A; Department of Cardiology, Center for Congenital Heart Diseases, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
& many other centres in Switzerland
Schwerzmann M; Bouchardy J; Buechel RR; Engel R; Freese M; Gabriel H; Greutmann M; Heg D; Possner M; Ruperti-Repilado FJ; Rutz T; Schwitter J; Thomet C; Tobler D; Wilhelm M; Wustmann K; Schwitz F;
CJC pediatric and congenital heart disease [CJC Pediatr Congenit Heart Dis] 2024 Dec 12; Vol. 4 (2), pp. 81-91.
Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Dec 12 (Print Publication: 2025).
Background: Adults with a transposition anatomy and a systemic right ventricle (RV) face long-term complications that may impact their quality of life (QoL). Few data are available regarding the QoL in this patient group and its evolution over time.
Methods: This study was performed in the SERVE trial’s (identifier: NCT03049540) prospective cohort of patients (n = 100) with congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries (TGA) or dextro-TGA after the atrial switch procedure and a longitudinal follow-up of 3 years. We aimed to describe the longitudinal QoL levels and their predictors. QoL was assessed using the Linear Analog Scale. QoL parameters were collected at baseline, after 12 months, and after 36 months, together with clinical parameters and a questionnaire assessing general self-efficacy (GSE).
Results: The mean QoL on the Linear Analog Scale was 79.1 ± 13.6 at baseline, 75.5 ± 14.8 at 1 year, and 79.2 ± 13.6 at 3-year follow-up ( P = 0.900). No significant differences in QoL were observed between congenitally corrected TGA or dextro-TGA patients. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing maximum work rate and maximum oxygen uptake, New York Heart Association class, end-diastolic RV volumes, N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide concentration, and GSE showed significant correlations with QoL levels. Multivariable regression analysis identified GSE value and New York Heart Association class ( r2 = 0.283, P < 0.001) as independent predictors of QoL at baseline.
Conclusions: Patients with a systemic RV reported a stable good QoL during 3 years of follow-up. Exercise capacity and self-efficacy were the only independent predictors of QoL.