Toronto Aortic Stenosis QoL Questionnaire – A validated questionnaire to assess quality of life in patients with aortic stenosis

Patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) have a reduced life-expectancy and quality of life, owing to advanced age and the presence of multiple comorbidities. Currently, there is no AS-specific QoL measurement tool, which prevents an accurate assessment of how this chronic condition and its treatment affects patients.

The Toronto Aortic Stenosis Quality of Life Questionnaire (TASQ) was developed in order to overcome the shortcomings of the currently available health-related QoL questionnaires. By incorporating insight from patients with severe AS, this novel assessment tool was developed to address the physical, emotional and social factors associated with this specific condition. The TASQ allows the patient to evaluate the effect of their ‘heart problems’ on QoL, without specifying the symptoms that should form the basis for their conclusion. It includes a number of questions related to the implications of AS and its treatment on the patient’s future; for example, concerns regarding family or finances.

We have completed the initial pilot development study and the recruitment for the validation study in 10 centers and 5 European countries (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03186339).

Dr. Rima Styra
(Toronto University Health Network, Ontario, Canada)

Prof. Dr. Derk Frank
(University Clinical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany)

Dr. Simon Kennon, MD, FRCP
(Barts Heart Centre, St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, London, United Kingdom)

Prof. Dr. Peter Bramlage
(Institute for Pharmacology and Preventive Medicine, Cloppenburg, Germany)