Health related quality of life in adults with repaired tetralogy of Fallot: psychosocial and cognitive outcomes

Objective: To assess the health related quality of life of patients who were operated on during childhood for total correction of tetralogy of Fallot, focusing on the psychosocial and cognitive outcomes. Patients: 54 patients ( 24 men and 30 women, mean (SD) age 32 ( 4) years), operated on for total correction of tetralogy of Fallot at mean age of 8.2 years, underwent a cardiological examination, psychological assessment ( semistructured interview, Minnesota multiphasic personality inventory), evaluation of quality of life ( 36 item short form health survey), and neuropsychological assessment with an extensive neuropsychological battery of tests. Results: Psychological characteristics -(1) a lower than normal academic level, ( 2) a job inadequate for educational level, ( 3) a preference for an overprotective familiar setting, and ( 4) a difficulty communicating own corporal image. Denial of the cardiopathy was found to be a common behaviour to normalise functioning. Very few patients had a deficit in memory, learning, or attention functions; rather, patients had a deficit in the executive functions, problem solving, and planning strategies. Conclusions: Despite a satisfactory health related quality of life, there are residual psychological and social problems in addition to impaired cognitive outcomes in the presence of a normal intelligence quotient.