ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Quality of life has become an important outcome measure in addition to mortality and morbidity in patients with congenital heart disease. Atrial septal defect is a common congenital heart disease, and transcatheter atrial septal defect closure has become an accepted treatment modality. The aim of this study is to assess the quality of life of patients with atrial septal defect who underwent percutaneous closure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We examined the quality of life of 69 patients with atrial septal defect and 69 healthy controls matched according to age, sex, educational level, and economic, marital, and employment status. Quality of life was investigated using the Turkish version of Short Form-36. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 39.7 ± 14.2 and 26% were male. The quality of life assessment was performed at a mean follow-up time of 18.0 ± 13.8 months after the intervention. The mean scores of the domains of the Short Form-36, namely, physical functioning, role functioning, social functioning, mental health, vitality, pain, and general health, were similar in patients with atrial septal defect who underwent percutaneous closure and the control group. CONCLUSION: Adult patients who underwent percutaneous atrial septal defect closure perceive their quality of life to be as good as their healthy counterparts.
