Self-reported physical activities in patients after the Mustard or Senning operation: Comparison with healthy control subjects

Abstract

Background Some decades ago, the Mustard or Senning operation was used to treat patients who were born with Transposition of the Great Arteries (TGA). Although life expectancy is good, previous studies have demonstrated limitations in exercise capacity. To what extent these limitations affect day-to-day functioning of the patients is not yet known. Aims We therefore investigated self-reported physical activities in patients after the Mustard or Senning operation, compared this with those of matched, healthy counterparts, and explored potential associations with age, gender and complexity of the TGA. Methods Seventy patients were matched with healthy controls. Habitual physical activity was measured using the Baecke questionnaire, resulting in a work, sports, and leisure time index, which ranges from 1 to 5. Results The median index scores of patients were 2.63 for work, 2.50 for sports; and 2.75 for leisure time. Only for sports, a significantly lower index score was found in patients. Furthermore, we found that older patients were less frequently engaged in sport activities (Spearman's rho=–0.38; p=0.02). Conclusion The results showed that the level of physical activities of patients after the Mustard and Senning operation is normal, except for sport activities. This indicates that patients after a Mustard or Senning operation tend to partake in all activities that they can comfortably perform.