Health-related quality of life and its associated factors among outpatients with heart failure: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: Heart Failure (HF) is a chronic disease associated with life-limiting symptoms that could negatively impact patients' health-related quality of life (HRQOL). This study aimed to evaluate HRQOL and explore the factors associated with poor HRQOL among patients with HF in Jordan.

Methods: This cross-sectional study used the validated Arabic version of the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire to assess HRQOL in outpatients with HF visiting cardiology clinics at two public hospitals in Jordan. Variables were collected from medical records and custom-designed questionnaires, including socio-demographics, biomedical variables, and disease and medication characteristics. Ordinal regression analysis was used to explore variables associated with poor HRQOL among HF patients.

Results: Ordinal regression analysis showed that the number of HF medications (P < 0.05) and not taking a loop diuretic (P < 0.05) significantly increased HRQOL, while the number of other chronic diseases (P < 0.05), stage III/IV of HF (P < 0.01), low monthly income (P < 0.05), and being unsatisfied with the prescribed medications (P < 0.05) significantly decreased HRQOL of HF patients.

Conclusions: Although the current study demonstrated low HRQOL among patients with HF in Jordan, HRQOL has a considerable opportunity for improvement in those patients. Variables identified in the present study, including low monthly income, higher New York Heart Association (NYHA) classes, a higher number of comorbidities, and/or taking a loop diuretic, should be considered in future intervention programs, aiming to improve HRQOL in patients with HF.

Keywords: Health-related quality of life; Heart failure; Intervention; Jordan; Minnesota living with heart failure questionnaire.