Living With Marfans and Your Aorta: Surgical Outcomes Study

Overview

Marfan Syndrome (MFS) is a genetic disease affecting the eyes, skeleton, heart and arteries. Despite MFS affecting multiple organ systems, cardiovascular manifestations are the most serious and life threatening. Approximately 80% of adult MFS patients will have a dilated aortic root by age 40 years with aortic aneurysm and dissection the leading causes of morbidity and mortality. Living with a diagnosis of Marfan Syndrome, including undergoing and recovering from heart surgery, affects patients' mental health, well-being and quality of life in ways that are not well understood. This study will address the current knowledge gaps in this area and will provide the information needed to design interventions to help improve the MFS patients' mental health, well-being and quality of life after heart surgery. The study will include adult MFS patients who are undergoing aorto-vascular surgery. The overall aim of the study is to explore the psychosocial and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) effects of the surgical interventions for aorto-vascular manifestations of MFS in 3 large UK cardiac centres. To achieve this, the researchers will ask the potential participants, after obtaining informed consent, to complete a series of accepted / validated questionnaires to measure the health-related quality of life (SF-36 and EQ5D questionnaire) and psychosocial factors such as depression (CES-D questionnaire), fatigue (Fatigue Severity Scale), stigma (Perceived Stigma Questionnaire), self-esteem (Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale), pain and illness perception (Illness Perception Questionnaire). Participants will be asked to complete the questionnaires before surgery and at various time points after surgery (at 6 weeks after hospital discharge and at 6 and 12 months after surgery). The research team will also collect in-hospital post-operative morbidity burden following aorto-vascular surgery using cardiac post-operative morbidity score (C-POMS) tool from the patients and clinical records. The association of C-POMS with psychosocial and HRQoL outcomes will also be examined.

Marfan Syndrome (MFS) is a rare autosomal-dominant connective tissue disorder with pleiotropic manifestations primarily affecting the skeletal, ocular, and cardiovascular systems. Despite MFS affecting multiple organ systems, cardiovascular manifestations are the most serious and life threatening. Approximately 80% of adult MFS patients will have a dilated aortic root by age 40 years with aortic aneurysm and dissection the leading causes of morbidity and mortality. However, there is limited evidence worldwide on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and psychosocial aspects of the recovery of MFS patients undergoing surgical intervention. Undergoing a heart operation can be a stressful and life-threatening experience involving a lot of uncertainties, long periods of absence from work and social activities as well as limitation on physical activities which can potentially lead to psychosocial problems and poor health-related quality of life. Therefore, there is a specific need for high quality descriptive and exploratory research in this area. The overarching aim of this prospective observational cohort study is to explore the psychosocial and HRQoL effects of surgical interventions for aorto-vascular manifestations of MFS in three large UK cardiac centres. Potential participants will be recruited from the outpatient pre-admission clinic. HRQoL and psychosocial factors will be determined and quantified using validated questionnaires before surgery and at various time points after surgery (at 6 weeks after hospital discharge and at 6 and 12 months after surgery). The questionnaires will be delivered either in paper or electronic format, depending on participant's preference. In-hospital post-operative morbidity burden following aorto-vascular surgery using cardiac post-operative morbidity score (C-POMS) tool will also be determined from the patients and clinical records and its association with psychosocial and HRQoL outcomes will be examined. The outcome of the study will significantly contribute to the UK and international evidence-base on the HRQoL and psychosocial impact of the aorto-vascular surgical interventions on MFS patients and will provide clinicians with the foundation that will serve as basis for appropriate interventions. The result will also be useful to better understand the condition and potentially guide the researchers in devising a patient care pathway that includes this aspect of care as well as develop a holistic and comprehensive service for this patient group.