Assessment of Quality of Life and Socioeconomic Inequality in Children with Cyanotic Congenital Heart Disease in Sulaymaniyah, Iraq

Purpose This study aimed to investigate health-related QoL in children with cyanotic congenital heart disease (CCHD) and to determine socioeconomic inequality in CCHD. Design: Case-Control Study. Methods This study was conducted at Children’s Heart Hospital and Primary Healthcare Centers in Sulaymaniyah, Iraq between December 01, 2021, and May 01, 2022. The study included 200 healthy and 200 with CCHD. For this purpose, a 5 Likert Scale QoL questionnaire was used to collect the data of patients and their parents through a direct face-to-face interview. Then, children's sociodemographic data and parents' socioeconomic status (SES) were investigated together with another 22 items in 6 domains. The socioeconomic status dimension is based on the validated SES index in Iraq. Findings: Studied children had equal gender and age distribution. CCHD was more prevalent in families with low SES, and ECI was − 0.44. Children with CCHD had significantly lower mean scores for the overall QoL dimension (Mean rank = 124) compared to healthy children (Mean rank = 277) (P ≤ 0.001). The mean SpO2 levels of healthy children were 9% higher than CCHD children (P < 0.001). Moreover, parents with CCHD children stated that 57% of their children had moderate to excellent health, while those with healthy children reported 98% (P = 0.001). Conclusions Significant deficits in all QoL dimensions were found in CCHD children. Also, we discovered an unequal distribution of CCHD in families with lower SES. Clinical evidence: The observed disparities in the prevalence of CCHD and its impact on quality of life underscore the critical significance of socioeconomic factors in contributing to the health outcomes of affected children. The intricate interplay between socioeconomic status and pediatric health, particularly in the context of congenital heart diseases, necessitates a comprehensive understanding to inform targeted interventions and support systems for affected families.