Year: 2013
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Since the first surgical techniques for patients with congenital heart disease (ConHD) became \navailable some 55 years ago, virtually every area of patient care has evolved substantially. \nThese improvements lead to an increased survival for patients with ConHD, with over 90% of \ninfants reaching adulthood. \nThis increased survival lead to a shift of focus in that congenital heart disease at adult age \nnowadays is considered a chronic disease. Therefore, current research does not only focus \non survival, but also on the quality of life of these patients. The term quality of life is broad \nand encompasses many dimensions of life, including – but not limited to – living conditions, \nwealth and employment, physical and mental health, education, leisure time, psychosocial \nfunctioning, lifestyle and social adaptation. \nIn order to investigate the impact of living with a congenital heart defect at adulthood, the \naims of this thesis were threefold; \n1) To investigate the impact on biographical characteristics \n2) To investigate the impact on psychological aspects \n3) To investigate the impact on medical aspects
Author: Petra Opić
Language: English
Subfield: Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W1658447709