BACKGROUND: Quality of Life (QoL) is an important predictor of mortality and re-admission in patients with heart failure (HF). Our aim was to analyze disease-specific quality of life and its relationship to psycho-social factors and HF severity. METHODS: In primary care patients with HF, quality of life (MLHFQ), anxiety, depression (HADS) and negative affectivity (DS-14), disease coping (FKV) and social support (F-SozU) were measured by validated questionnaires. Severity of HF (according to NYHA classification and Goldman's Specific Activity Scale) and sociodemographic characteristics were documented by self-report instruments. RESULTS: 363 patients from 44 general practices participated in the study (191 [52.6%] female). Women had more physical but not more emotional problems than men. Increased emotional and physical problems and global disease-related impairment in QoL (F = 63.29; p < 0.001) correlated with higher HF classes. Using regression analysis, more than 50% of the QoL values were predicted by psychological variables and perceived severity (significant for depression [HADS; p < 0.001], coping by dissimulation and wishful thinking [FKV; p = 0.027], HF severity [NYHA, Goldman; CONCLUSION: Psychosocial distress is a strong predictor of QoL impairment in primary care patients with HF. Because of its impact on both long-term prognosis and disease-specific QoL, psychosocial symptoms should be considered essential for the diagnosis and therapy in the routine care of patients with HF.
BACKGROUND: Quality of Life (QoL) is an important predictor of mortality and re-admission in patients with heart failure (HF). Our aim was to analyze disease-specific quality of life and its relationship to psycho-social factors and HF severity. METHODS: In primary care patients with HF, quality of life (MLHFQ), anxiety, depression (HADS) and negative affectivity (DS-14), disease coping (FKV) and social support (F-SozU) were measured by validated questionnaires. Severity of HF (according to NYHA classification and Goldman's Specific Activity Scale) and sociodemographic characteristics were documented by self-report instruments. RESULTS: 363 patients from 44 general practices participated in the study (191 [52.6%] female). Women had more physical but not more emotional problems than men. Increased emotional and physical problems and global disease-related impairment in QoL (F = 63.29; p < 0.001) correlated with higher HF classes. Using regression analysis, more than 50% of the QoL values were predicted by psychological variables and perceived severity (significant for depression [HADS; p < 0.001], coping by dissimulation and wishful thinking [FKV; p = 0.027], HF severity [NYHA, Goldman; CONCLUSION: Psychosocial distress is a strong predictor of QoL impairment in primary care patients with HF. Because of its impact on both long-term prognosis and disease-specific QoL, psychosocial symptoms should be considered essential for the diagnosis and therapy in the routine care of patients with HF.
Authors: Frank Peters-Klimm; Cornelia U Kunz; Gunter Laux; Joachim Szecsenyi; Thomas Müller-Tasch Journal: Health Qual Life Outcomes Date: 2010-09-13 Impact factor: 3.186
Authors: Mirjam Dieckelmann; Felix Reinhardt; Klaus Jeitler; Thomas Semlitsch; Jasper Plath; Ferdinand M Gerlach; Andrea Siebenhofer; Juliana J Petersen Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2019-02-19 Impact factor: 2.692
Authors: Seongkum Heo; Terry A Lennie; Susan J Pressler; Sandra B Dunbar; Misook L Chung; Debra K Moser Journal: Eur J Cardiovasc Nurs Date: 2014-01-15 Impact factor: 3.908
Authors: Marion Eisele; Eva Blozik; Stefan Störk; Jens-Martin Träder; Christoph Herrmann-Lingen; Martin Scherer Journal: BMC Fam Pract Date: 2013-11-27 Impact factor: 2.497