24. Psycho-social impact of prosthetic heart valves on young Saudi females

Background Many patients with prosthetic heart valves (PHV) in Saudi Arabia fall at young age. Females in the reproductive age may encounter a significant amount of emotional stress due to struggling between own health, natural desires, husbands demands and societal expectations. Different types of PHV may impose variable degrees of psychological disturbances and family disruptions. Objectives The aim of this study is to evaluate presence and magnitude of psycho-social effects of PHVs in young Saudi females. Methods Seventy-five Saudi females with PHV (18–50 y) and their age and marital status-matched controls were included in the study. Self-administered questionnaire, that includes short-form Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS) was used to obtain data. Results Mechanical valve (MV) group ( n  = 49) were 6.5 y older ( P  = 0.001), more illiterate ( p p  = 0.031) than biological valve (BV) group. Mean marital duration was 22.6 y in MV group and 12.6 y in BV group ( p P  = 0.022), while a trend of higher DASS domains was observed in the BV group ( p  = NS). Predictors of lower depression rate include; living outside Riyadh city, lower level of education, being unemployed and having a supportive husband. Conclusion Patients with MV have the most stable psychological status, probably as a result of stronger spousal relationship. Recommendation: Counselling husbands may strengthen spousal relationship and improve psychological wellbeing of patients with PHV.