So, how are you?

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Quality of life is a trendy term these days, and there are a variety of definitions of what quality of life actually is. When scientists measure quality of life, they consider not only how healthy people feel but also how satisfied people are with their lives. They do this because health is not the only factor in quality of life: social aspects, interpersonal relationships and economic circumstances all play a role. This is just as true of patients with congenital heart defects: the objective strength of their heart muscle alone is hardly a decisive factor in quality of life.

Some patients may well think that they are disadvantaged by physical limitations, health problems and emotional factors. Nevertheless, they report an extremely high quality of life, which they achieve through high levels of education, good relationships with friends and family, and level-headedness. These are the findings of a study into quality of life carried out by the German Competence Network for Congenital Heart Defects.