It is currently known that the atherosclerosis process starts in childhood. Thus, in order to decrease the number of cardiovascular events in the adult population, it was necessary to establish strategies aimed at preventing the development of risk factors in children. Of these, obesity is one of the most accountable elements. Obesity and its consequences, especially in adolescents, has been an increasingly frequent reality in cardiologists’ offices. Studies have shown that a high body mass index means a greater probability of developing chronic diseases, including, and among them, atherosclerosis, systemic arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, metabolic syndrome and comorbidities, such as obstructive sleep apnea.^, These risk factors, also during growth and development, tend to join and act in favor of cardiovascular disease.

Overweight and obesity in children and adolescents are indeed a matter of concern. A close look shows that, in the last twenty years, their proportion has greatly increased in several countries.^,, Adolescence is characterized by significant changes in body composition, especially during puberty. The follow-up and monitoring are essential since weight, body fat and lean mass are predictive characteristics of the development of cardiovascular risk factors in adult life.^, This age group, within this scenario, has a five-fold greater risk of excessive adiposity in the future, thus becoming a marker of increased cardiometabolic risk.

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Advances in cardiac surgery techniques and early diagnosis have enabled the increased survival of individuals with congenital heart disease. The investigation of the quality of life in children and adolescents with congenital heart disease provides complementary information to clinical data that can assist in decision making on the part of health professionals. Although many studies have been conducted to investigate the quality of life of children and adolescents with congenital heart disease, the results prove to be contradictory; while some studies show that congenital heart disease can impact the quality of life, others describe a better perception of quality of life among children and adolescents who suffer from the disease when compared with healthy control subjects. The purpose of this study is to review the literature on the assessment of health related quality of life in children and adolescents with congenital heart disease, in order to systematize the existing knowledge on this topic today. It is observed that research seeks to investigate aspects of personality in cardiac patients, their coping strategies used and perceived social support, aiming at better understanding the association of these variables with the level of quality of life in this population.