Assessment of quality of life in patients with heart failure

Abstract

Background. Heart failure is a clinical syndrome caused by abnormal cardiac function and structure, in which reduced cardiac output results in inadequate oxygen and nutrient supply to tissues. The disease is characterised by considerable heterogeneity of symptoms affecting the somatic, psychological, social and environmental functioning of the patient. The number of patients with heart failure grows year on year, making it one of the major challenges of contemporary cardiology and nursing care. Health status and the functional effect of the disease significantly determine patients’ subjective assessment of quality of life. Objectives. The aim of the study was to assess the quality of life of patients with heart failure and to analyse the influence of selected sociodemographic factors (gender, age, place of residence, education, professional activity, type of work) on the quality of life in four domains: somatic, psychological, social and environmental. Material and methods. The study was conducted between 10.12.2024 and 17.01.2025 in the cardiology ward of the Multispecialty Hospital – Independent Public Health Care Institution in Nowa Sol. The study group consisted of 150 patients diagnosed with heart failure (68 women, 82 men). The method of diagnostic survey was applied, with the questionnaire technique in the PAPI format, using two tools: the standardised WHOQoL-BREF questionnaire and an author-developed sociodemographic questionnaire. Statistical analysis was performed using R 3.6.0 and IBM SPSS, with the Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal- -Wallis test and Bonferroni post hoc test. The level of statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results. Respondents rated their quality of life at a similar level in all four domains (median Me = 56.25 in all domains). The lowest mean was obtained in the somatic domain (M = 52.42), the highest in the psychological domain (M = 56.92). As many as 50.3% of respondents rated their quality of life as good or very good. No statistically significant differences were found in the quality of life by gender (p > 0.05), age (p > 0.05) or place of residence (p > 0.05). However, statistically significant relationships were demonstrated between education and quality of life in the somatic, social and environmental domains (p < 0.05); between professional activity and the social and environmental domain (p < 0.05); and between the type of work and the somatic, social and environmental domain (p < 0.05) – patients with higher education, professionally active and performing mental work rated their quality of life higher. Conclusions. The majority of patients with heart failure assess their quality of life as good, and all four domains of quality of life are equally important to them. Education, professional activity and the type of work performed are significant determinants of quality of life in this group of patients, while gender, age and place of residence do not significantly differentiate this assessment. The results emphasise the importance of health education and socio-professional support in nursing care of patients with heart failure.