Retrospective Study
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2024. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Psychiatry. Jan 19, 2024; 14(1): 63-75
Published online Jan 19, 2024. doi: 10.5498/wjp.v14.i1.63
Postpartum quality of life and mental health in women with heart disease: Integrated clinical communication and treatment
Jia-Lin Liu, Qi Wang, Dong-Ying Qu
Jia-Lin Liu, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, Liaoning Province, China
Qi Wang, Department of Psychiatry, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, Shenyang 110016, Liaoning Province, China
Dong-Ying Qu, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, Shenyang 110016, Liaoning Province, China
Author contributions: Liu JL and Qu DY were involved in the design and conduct of the study as well as the interpretation of data; Liu JL contributed to the statistical design of the study and the interpretation of data; Wang Q was involved in the design of the study and interpretation of data; Liu JL, Wang Q, and Qu DY contributed as clinical experts for data interpretation; All authors participated in the development of the manuscript and approved the final version for submission.
Supported by Department of Science and Technology of Liaoning Province, No. 2021JH2/10300095.
Institutional review board statement: The proposal for this study has been approved by the Ethics Committee of the General Hospital of the Northern Theater Command, No. Y2023116.
Informed consent statement: Exemption from informed consent form.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The author declares that there is no conflict of interest in this article.
Data sharing statement: All data generated and analyzed during this study are included in this article.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Dong-Ying Qu, MS, Associate Chief Physician, Occupational Physician, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, No. 83 Wenhua Road, Shenhe District, Shenyang 110016, Liaoning Province, China. 2021122111@cmu.edu.cn
Received: November 21, 2023
Peer-review started: November 21, 2023
First decision: December 5, 2023
Revised: December 6, 2023
Accepted: December 21, 2023
Article in press: December 21, 2023
Published online: January 19, 2024
Abstract
BACKGROUND

Postpartum quality of life (QoL) in women with heart disease has been neglected.

AIM

To improve clinical communication and treatment, we integrated medical data and subjective characteristics to study postpartum QoL concerns.

METHODS

The study assessed QoL 6 wk after birth using the 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, Cardiac Anxiety Questionnaire, European Heart Failure Self-Care Behavior Scale, and a self-designed questionnaire based on earlier research were also used to assess patient characteristics. Patient data were collected. Prediction models were created using multiple linear regression.

RESULTS

This retrospective study examined postpartum QoL in 105 cardiac patients. Postpartum QoL scores were lower (90.69 ± 13.82) than those of women without heart disease, with physical component scores (41.09 ± 9.91) lower than mental component scores (49.60 ± 14.87). Postpartum depression (33.3%), moderate anxiety (37.14%), pregnancy concerns (57.14%), offspring heart problems (57.14%), and life expectancy worries (48.6%) were all prevalent. No previous cardiac surgery, multiparity, higher sadness and cardiac anxiety, and fear of unfavorable pregnancy outcomes were strongly related to lower QoL (R2 = 0.525).

CONCLUSION

Postpartum QoL is linked to physical and mental health in women with heart disease. Our study emphasizes the need for healthcare workers to recognize the unique characteristics of these women while developing and implementing comprehensive management approaches during their maternity care.

Keywords: Heart disease, Pregnancy, Postpartum, Quality of life, Mental health

Core Tip: This study illuminates the intimate connection between quality of life (QoL) and physical and psychological well-being in postpartum women with cardiac conditions. Results showed lower postpartum QoL scores, including higher depression and cardiac anxiety, and worry about adverse pregnancy outcomes. Thus, healthcare providers must recognize their unique features when developing and implementing comprehensive obstetric care plans for these women.