Heart defects have an impact on career choice

Having a job or a career enhances quality of life, increases financial security and confers higher social status. Young people with a congenital heart defect, however, often feel they are disadvantaged in the employment market. This is the finding of the German LESSIE study which questioned 1,739 patients on the German National Registry for congenital heart defects about their quality of life and social situation.

Of the patients questioned, one quarter of those with moderate heart defects and more than half of those with severe heart defects stated that they felt their congenital heart disease had had an impact on their choice of career.

Competent careers advice can be a great support for young people with heart defects.

Heart defects impact on career choice

Share of those questioned who felt their career choices were limited by their heart defect