Background: The Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ) is commonly used to measure quality of life (QOL) in patients with heart failure (HF). We examined the psychometric properties and cultural validity of an Arabic version of the MLHFQ.
Methods: An observational cross-sectional study was conducted with 210 adult HF outpatients. Patients were interviewed with the Arabic MLHFQ and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Cronbach's alpha coefficient and confirmatory factor analysis were conducted. Patients with different NYHA classes and HF-hospitalization histories were compared on QOL to test known-group validity.
Results: The confirmatory factor analysis yielded 3 factors: physical, emotional, and social. Three items (4, 8, and 15) had low loadings. The overall Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.92. There were significant differences in MLHFQ by PHQ-9 categories, NYHA class, and HF-hospitalization history.
Conclusions: This Arabic version of MLHFQ is valid and reliable and can be used in Arabic-speaking Lebanese HF populations.
Keywords: Heart failure; Psychometric study; Quality of life.
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