Arquivos Brasileiros de Cardiologia (Jan 2002)

Consequences of the Prolonged Waiting Time for Patients Candidates for Heart Surgery

  • Haddad Nagib,
  • Bittar Olímpio J. N. V.,
  • Pereira Ana A. M.,
  • Silva Maria Barbosa da,
  • Amato Vivian L.,
  • Farsky Pedro S.,
  • Ramos Auristela I. O.,
  • Sampaio Marcelo,
  • Almeida Tarcísio L. V.,
  • Armaganijan Dikran,
  • Sousa José Eduardo M. R.

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 78, no. 5
pp. 459 – 465

Abstract

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OBJECTIVE - To assess mortality and the psychological repercussions of the prolonged waiting time for candidates for heart surgery. METHODS - From July 1999 to May 2000, using a standardized questionnaire, we carried out standardized interviews and semi-structured psychological interviews with 484 patients with coronary heart disease, 121 patients with valvular heart diseases, and 100 patients with congenital heart diseases. RESULTS - The coefficients of mortality (deaths per 100 patients/year) were as follows: patients with coronary heart disease, 5.6; patients with valvular heart diseases, 12.8; and patients with congenital heart diseases, 3.1 (p<0.0001). The survival curve was lower in patients with valvular heart diseases than in patients with coronary heart disease and congenital heart diseases (p<0.001). The accumulated probability of not undergoing surgery was higher in patients with valvular heart diseases than in the other patients (p<0.001), and, among the patients with valvular heart diseases, this probability was higher in females than in males (p<0.01). Several patients experienced intense anxiety and attributed their adaptive problems in the scope of love, professional, and social lives, to not undergoing surgery. CONCLUSION - Mortality was high, and even higher among the patients with valvular heart diseases, with negative psychological and social repercussions.

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