91̽»¨

Image

Introduction: Isolated valvular aortic stenosis (VAS) accounts for 3–5% of congenital heart disease and presents with a wide spectrum of severity. Critical VAS in the neonate is the most severe form, fatal in the absence of treatment. Physical activity is essential for normal development and is a prerequisite for long-term cardiovascular health. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and life satisfaction are important subjective outcome factors.

Aim: To investigate survival and treatment outcome in neonates, children and adolescents treated for isolated VAS and in the children and adolescents, to study physical activity, HRQoL and life satisfaction.

Image

Results and conclusions: Mortality after treatment for VAS in neonates and children was low. Transplant-free survival was 96% in the paediatric cohort (n=113), 91% in neonates with critical VAS (n=65) and 98% in neonates with non-critical VAS (n=42) with median follow-up between 11 and 14 years. Reinterventions were common and performed in 38% of the paediatric patients, 58% of neonates with critical VAS and 33% of neonates with non-critical VAS (p=0.008). Both patients and controls fulfilled the WHO recommendations for physical activity to a high degree. Accelerometry revealed a different physical activity pattern in patients compared to controls. Patients rated their HRQoL and life satisfaction as similar to healthy controls. An unexpected finding was a negative association between high-intensity physical activity and psychological well-being and life satisfaction in adolescent patients.