Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34158308›Full record

Observational studyBMJ open2021

'Well-being paradox' revisited: a cross-sectional study of quality of life in over 4000 adults with congenital heart disease.

Caroline Sophie Andonian, Sebastian Freilinger, Stephan Achenbach, Peter Ewert, Ulrike Gundlach, Jürgen Hoerer, Harald Kaemmerer, Lars Pieper, Michael Weyand, Rhoia Clara Neidenbach and 1 more

Open access · goldAbstract readObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in BMJ open, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 11 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
11citing papers in PubMed
2.9field-weighted citation impact, top 9% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

11 citing papers in PubMed, 22 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Reliability and validation of the German WHOQOL-BREF in adults with congenital heart disease.Quality of life research : an international journal of quality of life aspects of treatment, care and rehabilitation · 2026
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  10. A novelExperimental and therapeutic medicine · 2022
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors at 5 institutions in 4 countries.

Caroline Sophie AndonianDepartment of Congenital Heart Disease and Pediatric Cardiology, German Heart Center Munich, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany C.Andonian@gmx.de.ORCID 0000-0002-7357-7156
Sebastian FreilingerDepartment of Congenital Heart Disease and Pediatric Cardiology, German Heart Center Munich, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany.
Stephan AchenbachDepartment of Cardiology, University of Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany.
Peter EwertDepartment of Congenital Heart Disease and Pediatric Cardiology, German Heart Center Munich, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany.
Ulrike GundlachDepartment of Cardiology, University of Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany.
Jürgen HoererDepartment for Congenital and Pediatric Heart Surgery, German Heart Center Munich, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany.
Harald KaemmererDepartment of Congenital Heart Disease and Pediatric Cardiology, German Heart Center Munich, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany.
Lars PieperDepartment of Behavioral Epidemiology, Technical University of Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
Michael WeyandDepartment of Cardiac Surgery, University of Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany.
Rhoia Clara NeidenbachSports Medicine, Exercise Physiology and Prevention, Department of Sport Science, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Jürgen BeckmannDepartment of Sport and Health Sciences, Chair of Sport Psychology, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany.
Deutsches Herzzentrum München · DEFriedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg · DETechnische Universität Dresden · DEThe University of Queensland · AUUniversity of Vienna · AT

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveThe present cross-sectional study investigated quality of life (QOL) in a large cohort of German adults with congenital heart disease (ACHDs) in association with patient-related and clinical variables.

designCross-sectional survey.

participantsBetween 2016 and 2019, a representative sample of 4014 adults with various forms of congenital heart defect (CHD) was retrospectively analysed. Inclusion criteria were confirmed diagnosis of CHD; participant aged 18 years and older; and necessary physical, cognitive and language capabilities to complete self-report questionnaires. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: QOL was assessed using the 5-level EQ-5D version (EQ-5D-5L). Sociodemographic and medical information was obtained by a self-devised questionnaire. Associations of QOL with patient-reported clinical and sociodemographic variables were quantified using multiple regression analysis and multiple ordinal logit models.

resultsOverall, ACHDs (41.8±17.2 years, 46.5% female) reported a good QOL comparable to German population norms. The most frequently reported complaints occurred in the dimensions pain/discomfort (mean: 16.3, SD: p<0.001) and anxiety/depression (mean: 14.3, p<0.001). QOL differed significantly within ACHD subgroups, with patients affected by pretricuspid shunt lesions indicating the most significant impairments (p<0.001). Older age, female sex, medication intake and the presence of comorbidities were associated with significant reductions in QOL (p<0.001). CHD severity was positively associated with QOL within the dimensions of self-care (OR 0.148, 95% CI 0.04 to 0.58) and mobility (OR 0.384, 95% CI 0.19 to 0.76).

conclusionCurrent findings temper widely held assumptions among clinicians and confirm that ACHDs experience a generally good QOL. However, specific subgroups may require additional support to cope with disease-related challenges. The negative correlation of QOL with age is especially alarming as the population of ACHDs is expected to grow older in the future. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: DRKS00017699; Results.

Indexed as

Heart Defects, CongenitalQuality of LifeAdultAgedCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHealth StatusHumansMaleMiddle AgedRetrospective StudiesSurveys and QuestionnairesYoung Adultadult cardiologycardiac epidemiologycongenital heart diseaseepidemiologymental healthpreventive medicine

Identifiers

PMID34158308
PMCPMC8220527
OpenAlexW3173436998

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.