Effects of a structured heart failure program on quality of life and frequency of hospital admission in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Objectives: To compare the quality of life (QOL) and frequency of hospital admission (FHA) in the past 4 months between congestive heart failure (CHF) patients involved in a structured heart failure program (HFP) compared with waitlisted controls. Methods: This study, employing an ex-post-facto comparative cross-sectional design, involved 80 patients with CHF (40 in the HFP and 40 controls). Those in the HFP had been enrolled for at least 4 months. Controls were waiting to be enrolled in the program. Participants completed a questionnaire assessing demographic, social/cultural, psychological, and CHF-related physical health characteristics, along with the primary dependent variables, QOL and FHA. Bivariate and multivariate analyses assessed differences between those in the HFP and controls. Results: Congestive heart failure patients in the HFP were significantly less likely than the control group to score below the median on heart failure-specific QOL, controlling for other variables (OR=0.83, 95% CI: 0.82-0.95, p =0.007). Those in the HFP were also significantly less likely than controls to be hospitalized within the past 4 months (OR=0.78, 95% CI: 0.69-0.88, p <0.001). Multivariate analyses indicated that CHF patients in the HFP were 95% less likely than controls to be admitted to the hospital during that period, independent of other risk factors for hospital admission. Conclusion: Involvement by patients with CHF in a structured HFP at King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, is associated with significantly higher quality of life and lower likelihood of being hospitalized compared to CHF patients not involved.

Effect of interventional follow-up phone calls on health-related quality of life in adult patients with heart failure in Saudi Arabia: a pilot study

“…In a review of HRQOL studies conducted in SA, women with HF were found to have lower HRQOL compared to men, particularly in emotional and physical domains, while younger patients had significantly higher HRQOL scores in most studies [22,24,25]. AbuRuz et al indicated that Saudi patients may choose not to express their feelings and emotions during sickness and avoid asking for social and emotional assistance from health care professionals, which consequently impacts their HRQOL [22].…”

Strategic Recommendations to Bridge the Gaps in Awareness, Diagnosis and Prevention of Heart Failure in the Middle East Region and Africa

“…In comparison to general cardiology out-patient department, dedicated HF clinics were better in maintaining guideline-directed medication therapy, together with decreased rate of rehospitalisation and mortality [ 65 , 66 ]. A study from Saudi Arabia showed that a structured HF programme can significantly enhance quality of life and dramatically decline hospital admissions [ 67 ]. Nurse-led HF clinics can help early diagnosis in economically and socially vulnerable patients with advanced cardiovascular disease and facilitate initiation of guideline-directed therapy before seeing a specialist [ 28 , 68 ].…”

NHC/ SHA 2023 Focused update of the 2019 guidelines for the management of heart failure

“…This is important considering that lower health-related quality of life predicts mortality and re-hospitalization in HF regardless of symptoms severity and LV dysfunction [ 10 ]. This was reflected among Saudi HF patients among whom impaired quality of life was reported [ 11 ] and involvement in a structured management program for HF improved quality of life, reduced mortality as well as hospitalization [ 12 , 13 ]).…”