THE PSYCHOSOCIAL SITUATION OF ADULT PATIE NTS WITH CONGENITAL HEART-DISEASE

Despite successful medical treatment and hemodynamic good results afte r surgical correction, relevant psychosocial problems occur in adult p atients with congenital heart disease. 146 patients in Germany with si mple but also with complex congenital heart defects were examined by m eans of a questionnaire to look into these problems. Although most of the patients belonged to Ability Index I or Ability Index II of J. Som erville, almost 60 % felt not healthy and impaired. The level of educa tion was above average. 98 % had attended a regular school, 23 % a sec ondary school, and 15 % had attended university. The congenital heart disease negatively affected the choice of occupation for 25 % of the p atients, but only 8.6 % had difficulties when they applied for a job. The majority of patients was employed and satisfied with their occupat ion. Most of them were working in physically less demanding jobs. Spor ting activities were widespread, although half of the patients felt im paired by the congenital heart disease when performing sports. All pat ients had some kind of health insurance. Most of them were enrolled in the common public health insurance plan. The insurers paid for almost all expenses caused by the congenital heart disease. More than 30 % w ere not accepted by life insurance companies. Only 1.4 % were members of a self-help-group for congenital heart disease. The knowledge of th ese occurring problems may help to improve the treatment of adult pati ents with congenital heart disease and, moreover, infants and adolesce nt patients who still have to reach adulthood may later benefit from t his information.