Quality of life and health status of hospitalized adults with congenital heart disease in Vietnam: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the quality of life (QOL) and health status of adults with congenital heart disease (CHD) in developing countries. Therefore, this study aimed to describe the QOL and health status of hospitalized adults with CHD in Vietnam and investigate the association between QOL and their biological-social characteristics. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 109 adults with CHD, hospitalized in the Vietnam National Heart Institute, between June and December 2019. Validated instruments to assess QOL and health status describing patient-reported outcomes were used, including the EuroQOL-5 Dimensions-5 Level, Satisfaction with Life Scale, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. RESULTS: The mean scores on the EuroQOL-descriptive system (EQ-DS) and EuroQOL visual analogue scale (EQ-VAS) were 0.792 (SD = 0.122, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.769–0.815) and 66.3 (SD = 12.5, 95% CI 63.9–68.7), respectively. A total of 9.2% (n = 9) patients experienced life dissatisfaction. The prevalence of anxiety and depression were 18.7% (n = 20) and 11% (n = 12), respectively. Scores of QOL in patients aged > 30 years were lower than in those aged ≤ 30 years. Stratified multivariate logistic regression revealed that poor QOL related to being unemployed/unstable employment (OR 4.43, 95% CI 1.71–11.47, p = 0.002), life dissatisfaction associated with unmarried status (OR 4.63, 95% CI 1.2–17.86, p = 0.026), anxiety regarding unemployment/unstable employment (OR 3.88, 95% CI 1.27–11.84, p = 0.017) and complex CHD/PAH (OR 4.84, 95% CI 1.33–17.54, p = 0.016), and depression regarding unemployment/unstable employment (OR 4.63, 95% CI 1.22–17.59, p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Reduced QOL and elevated psychological problems were common experiences among hospitalized adults with CHD in Vietnam. Biological-social characteristics such as unmarried status, unemployment/unstable employment, and complex CHD/PAH related to poor QOL, life dissatisfaction, anxiety, and depression. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12872-021-02026-1.