International Cardiovascular Forum Journal (Jan 2016)

Use of the “Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire” Quality of Life Questionnaire in Kosovo’s Heart Failure Patients

  • Artan Ahmeti,
  • Pranvera Ibrahimi,
  • Ibadete Bytyçi,
  • Edmond Haliti,
  • Rozafa Olloni,
  • Shpend Elezi,
  • Gani Bajraktari

DOI
https://doi.org/10.17987/icfj.v9i0.390
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 9
pp. 36 – 40

Abstract

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Background: Quality of life (QoL) is one of the most important end-points in heart failure (HF) patients. The Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ) is the most widely used measurement for assessing the QoL in HF patients. This questionnaire had been translated and validated into the Albanian language. We used this questionnaire to evaluate the QoL in HF patients in Kosovo. Methods The study subjects were 103 consecutive HF patients (63±10 years, 56 female, 48% hypertensive and 26% ischaemic etiology, classified as NYHA I-III) admitted in outpatient or in-patient clinics at University Clinical Centre of Kosovo. At the moment of evaluation the patients were clinically stable and on optimized drug therapy. Relationships were tested between questionnaire score and different clinical and demographic factors. Results There was no difficulty in the administration of the Albanian version of MLHFQ or in the patient’s understanding of the questions. The overall median score of MLHFQ was 51 (mean 50±18). Female patients had higher total (p=0.015), emotional (p=0.022) and physical (p=0.019) MLWH compared to male patients. Te total MQLQ score had good correlation with 6MWT distance (p<0.001), but not with the level of NTproBNP level (p=0.364).Significant relationship was found also between MLWH and NYHA functional class in HF patients (p=0.002 for total, p=0.026 for emotional, and p<0.001 for physical MLHF score). NYHA functional class also significantly correlated with 6MWT distance (p<0.001 for both). Conclusions The Albanian version of the MLHFQ proposed in this study proved to be valid for HF patients and served as a new and important instrument for assessing QoL in Kosovo’s patients. The MLHFQ was mildly higher in our patients compared with previous studies and was higher in female patients. The questionnaire score correlates with functional NYHA class, reflecting the severity of the disease, and with 6 minute walk test, reflecting exercise capacity.

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