Association between quality of life and prognosis of candidate patients for heart transplantation: a cross-sectional study

Rev Lat Am Enfermagem. 2018 Oct 11:26:e3054. doi: 10.1590/1518-8345.2602.3054.
[Article in English, Portuguese, Spanish]

Abstract

Objective: to verify the association between the prognostic scores and the quality of life of candidates for heart transplantation.

Method: a descriptive cross-sectional study with a convenience sample of 32 outpatients applying to heart transplantation. The prognosis was rated by the Heart Failure Survival Score (HFSS) and the Seattle Heart Failure Model (SHFM); and the quality of life by the Minnesota Living With Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ) and the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ). The Pearson correlation test was applied.

Results: the correlations found between general quality of life scores and prognostic scores were (HFSS/MLHFQ r = 0.21), (SHFM/MLHFQ r = 0.09), (HFSS/KCCQ r = -0.02), (SHFM/KCCQ r = -0.20).

Conclusion: the weak correlation between the prognostic and quality of life scores suggests a lack of association between the measures, i.e., worse prognosis does not mean worse quality of life and the same statement is true in the opposite direction.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Heart Transplantation / psychology
  • Heart Transplantation / standards*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Patient Selection*
  • Prognosis
  • Quality of Life*
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Surveys and Questionnaires / standards*