Quality of Life Among Chinese Child Survivors of Heart Failure After Discharge From Pediatric Intensive Care Unit

Abstract

Introduction: This study investigated the current quality of life (QOL) status and related influencing factors in children with heart failure in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU).

Method: One hundred eighty-three children admitted to the PICU with heart failure were consecutively sampled. They were assessed 3 months after discharge and compared with a control group of 160 healthy individuals. The Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (version 4.0) and Children's Revised Impact of Event Scale were completed, and factors influencing QOL were analyzed.

Results: Three months after discharge, the PICU group reported lower average scores on the overall QOL and the physical and emotional functioning scales than the control group. In particular, posttraumatic stress disorder status, age, and caregiver educational level greatly influenced the PICU children's QOL.

Discussion: More interventions and attention are needed to improve the QOL for PICU heart failure patients after discharge.

Keywords: Children; heart failure; pediatric intensive care unit; quality of life.