An Integrative Review of Health-related Quality of Life in Patients with Advanced Heart Failure

Abstract

Purpose: Even though advanced heart failure (HF) severely affects the patient' s health-related quality of life (HRQoL), there is little information regarding this issue. This review is aimed to describe the relevant clinical characteristics of patient with advanced HF and identify factors influencing HRQoL in these patients. Methods: Empirical articles were searched from electronic databases issued from January 2000 to June 2018 with using the key terms 'heart failure' and 'quality of life'. There were a total of 22 articles that met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed for this study. Results: First, nine studies among 22 studies clearly stated that their participants were samples of patients with advanced HF. Most reviewed studies showed the New York Heart Association (NYHA) class as the criteria for identifying advanced HF. Second, the level of HRQoL varied depending on the measurement tools utilized by the researchers. Third, the NYHA class, gender, and symptoms were mainly associated with HRQoL in patients with advanced HF. Also, nurse-or physician-led intervention, exercise, spiritual-focused intervention, and palliative care improved the HRQoL of the patients with advanced HF. Conclusion: This study found that the clear application of criteria for advanced HF and the development of advanced HFspecific HRQoL measurement was needed. Prospective studies should be considered for identifying differences in the levels and factors influencing HRQoL in patients with early stage or advanced HF to design patient-centered care.

Predictive Model for Quality of Life in Patients With Heart Failure

“…Next, symptoms were found to be a significant indirect influencing factor on QoL through functional limitations. This is supported by the results of an integrated review that reported that the greater the physical symptom severity, the poorer the QoL 15 . Experiencing exacerbated HF symptoms impact patients' QoL and create significant disruptions in their lives 6 .…”

“…This is supported by the results of an integrated review that reported that the greater the physical symptom severity, the poorer the QoL. 15 Experiencing exacerbated HF symptoms impact patients' QoL and create significant disruptions in their lives. 6 Proper treatment can be delayed because major symptoms are not identified early, yet many patients had potential HF symptoms in the months before acute care visits.…”

“…Demographic characteristics included gender, age, education level, marital status, residence type, occupation, total monthly household income, and economic status. The clinical characteristics included the duration of HF, cause of HF, medications, side effects, BMI, New York Heart Association functional classification, and comorbidities 15,16 …”

“…The clinical characteristics included the duration of HF, cause of HF, medications, side effects, BMI, New York Heart Association functional classification, and comorbidities. 15,16 Data Collection Data collection was conducted from July 23 to September 15, 2021, at an outpatient clinic at a university hospital. Data were collected through self-report questionnaires, structured questionnaires, interviews, physical measurements, and electronic medical records.…”

“…To date, previous studies related to the QoL of patients with HF, physical, emotional, psychological, social, demographic, and pathophysiological variables (eg, age, sex, marital status, body mass index [BMI], cause of HF, left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF], New York Heart Association functional classification, and comorbidities, among others) have been suggested as factors related to QoL. 15,16 Rector 8 developed a conceptual model that encompassed the relationship between QoL, HF, and its influencing factors in 5 domains, namely, HF pathophysiology, symptoms, limitation of physical function, and psychological distress (Figure 1). This model leads to a better understanding of QoL in patients with HF and provides a basis for future scientific discourse on factors affecting QoL in patients with HF.…”