Quality of Life and Psychosocial Care in Pediatric Heart Failure

Advances in both medical and surgical management of children living with cardiovascular disease have resulted in improved survival in this population. However, children living with cardiovascular disease are often required to abide by physical activity restrictions, medications, and chronic long-term follow-up, which can impair health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Additionally, advanced therapies including implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs), cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT), and increasingly utilized mechanical circulatory support (MCS) in this population can further affect HRQOL. Additionally, heart failure (HF) is increasingly appreciated as a syndrome affecting many organ systems including the brain, mental health, and HRQOL. HRQOL is appreciated as an important long-term outcome measure in the management of adults living with HF and is increasingly appreciated as such in the pediatric HF population.