| Long-term survival of patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) has improved significantly. This may lead to increased long-term morbidity, possibly impairing quality of life (Qol). Ten years ago Qol was assessed in a cohort of patients with various types of CHD operated before 1980 in our institute. Since 1980 many aspects of medical care for CHD have changed. The age at corrective operation has been reduced significantly for most lesions. New techniques, including catheter intervention, have been introduced for other lesions. In a combined PhD project, Wilfred de Koning and Alma Spijkerboer test the hypothesis that these changes have resulted in improved cardiological and/or psychosocial quality of life. |
