Quality of life after surgical treatment of mitral heart disease

Abstract

Aim. To evaluate long-term quality of life (QOL) of patients after surgical treatment of mitral valve disease depending on the types of surgical intervention, to identify predictors of a lower QOL after surgery.
 Material and methods. A single-center retrospective study involved 107 patients after isolated correction of primary non-ischemic mitral valve (MV) pathology, who were operated on from 2009 to 2016, and analyzed their long-term QOL. The follow-up period was from 2 to 6 years. 2 groups of patients were formed: the 1st group (n=60) patients who underwent mitral valve replacement (MVR); the 2nd group (n=47) patients who underwent mitral valve repair (MVRep). There were no statistically significant differences between the main clinical and demographic characteristics in reference to the groups. The SF-36 questionnaire was used for studying QOL.
 Results. The indicators of QOL approach the average population levels in both groups. In group MVRep Physical Functioning PF (p=0.02 and 0.01), Bodily Pain BP (p=0.04), Vitality VT (p=0.01) and Social Functioning SF (p=0.001) are higher. There are improvements in physical and mental health components after surgery. Mental and physical components are lower than in the normal population but they dont go beyond average populations indicators. Mental health in the MVRep group is better than in the MVR group (p=0.01). Female gender, dilatation of the left atrium (every 1 mm before surgery), older age (every year) increased the probability of lower QOL in the long term by 84, 11 and 8% respectively.
 Conclusion. Long-term QOL of patients after surgical treatment of mitral valve disease improves both after valve repair and after valve replacement. After MVRep Physical Functioning, Bodily Pain, Vitality and Social Functioning indicators are higher. There are improvements in physical and mental health components. Psychological component of health is higher in patients in the MVRep-group. Female gender, dilatation of the left atrium, older age increase the probability of lower QOL in the long term after mitral valve surgery.