Influence of age on quality of life of patients with rheumatic aortic valve disease after aortic valve replacement: a prospective study

Abstract

Objective To study the influence of age on quality of life(QOL) of patients with rheumatic valve disease after aortic valve replacement.Methods A total of 42 patients with rheumatic aortic valve disease who received aortic valve replacement in Changhai Hospital during March 2010 to Dec 2010 were prospectively studied.The patients were divided into 3 groups according their ages:(1) group A,45 years,(2) group B,≥45 years and 65 years,and(3) group C,≥65 years.QOL of patients was measured at baseline and at 3 months,6 months and 12 months after operation using Short Form 36-Item(SF-36) Health Survey.Wilcoxon matched pairs rank test was used to analyze the changes of patients' QOL after surgery,and repeated measurement was used to analyze the influence of age on QOL of rheumatic patients.Results(1) Four of the eight domains of the SF-36,including role-physical(RP),general health(GH),vitality(VT),and mental health(MH) were significantly improved in group A and C at 3 months after operation(P0.05),and all the eight domains were significantly improved at 6 and 12 months after operation(P0.05).For group B,four domains,including RP,GH,VT and social function(SF),were significantly improved at 3 months after operation(P0.05);all the domains but MH were significantly improved at 6 months after operation(P0.05),and all the 8 domains were significantly improved at 12 months after surgery(P0.05).(2) All the domains but GH had no significant difference between the 3 groups.The GH score in group A were significantly improved than that in group B and C(P=0.000).Conclusion The QOL of patients with rheumatic heart valve disease is improved after operation.Age is not a risk factor of QOL in patients with rheumatic heart valve disease after aortic valve replacement;younger patients seem to benefit more from the surgery for the GH score.