Socio-Psychological and Behavioral Characteristics of Patients With Chronic Heart Failure Awaiting Heart Transplantation

Abstract

Aim. The article presents the results of psychological investigations of patients in the terminal stage of chronic heart failure (n = 105, average age 51.9 ± 0.9 years, males – 86.7 %) undergoing medical treatment at the Almazov National Medical Research Centre (St. Petersburg). The investigations were carried out before the medical commission for inclusion of patients into the waiting list for heart transplantation (HTWL). Materials and methods. After 6 months of treatment in a cardiology hospital, the patients were divided into 2 groups – the patients included in and retained their positions in the HTWL (n = 55) and the patients not included in or excluded from the HTWL (n = 55). That was done in order to identify the prognostically significant psychosocial characteristics of patients. Clinical, psychological and psychometric methods were used such as a structured interview, expert questionnaire for doctors, the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), the Short Form-36 (SF-36). Results. Comparative analysis reveals a wide range of psychological characteristics, among which the indicators of adherence for treatment and willingness to change lifestyle have the greatest importance. Emotional support and relationships outside the family, an adequate understanding of the disease, an optimistic assessment of the outcome of surgery treatment, etc., as well as the presence of one's own family and minor children are essential in the structure of the psychosocial potential of patients during preparation for HT. Conclusion. Using the obtained results will improve the methodology and procedure for a comprehensive clinical assessment of patients with chronic heart failure before inclusion into the waiting list for heart transplantation, which is extremely important for advanced surgical technologies.