Quality of life: an underutilized patient-reported outcome for adults with congenital heart disease

Quality of life (QOL) is defined as “the degree of overall life satisfaction that is positively or negatively influenced by individuals’ perception of certain aspects of life important to them, including matters both related and unrelated to health” (1). It is the general wellbeing of individuals and should not be confused with the concept of “standard of living” which is based on income. QOL includes everything from physical health, family, education, employment, wealth, finance and the environment (2).