ESC Heart Failure (Aug 2024)

Assessing the diversity and determinants of health‐related quality of life measures in patients with acute heart failure

  • Dhrumil Patil,
  • Hsin‐Ju Tang,
  • Fang‐Hsiu Kuo,
  • Han Siong Toh,
  • I‐Ning Yang,
  • Wei‐Ting Chang,
  • Mei‐Chuan Lee,
  • Kai‐Ning Chung,
  • Chi‐Ya Huang,
  • Wan‐Hsuan Hsu,
  • Ting‐Chia Chang,
  • Jhih‐Yuan Shih,
  • Chia‐Te Liao

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/ehf2.14745
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11, no. 4
pp. 1963 – 1970

Abstract

Read online

Abstract Aims Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) significantly impacts health‐related quality of life (HR‐QoL). Existing HR‐QoL questionnaires can show inconsistencies, potentially misrepresenting patient self‐reports. This study examines the variation in HR‐QoL measurement tools for HFrEF patients, identifying related determinants. Methods and results We retrospectively analysed 134 hospitalized patients with acute decompensated HFrEF at a Taiwanese tertiary centre's Heart Failure Post‐Acute‐Care (HF‐PAC) programme. Participants completed the EuroQol‐5 dimension (EQ‐5D) questionnaire, the EQ‐5D visual analogue scale (VAS), and the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ). Utility values were obtained from the EQ‐5D questionnaire. Demographic features were depicted using descriptive statistics, while multivariate regression was used to ascertain relationships between HR‐QoL measurements and determinants. Average scores for EQ‐5D, MLHFQ, EQ‐5D utility, and VAS were 6.1 ± 1.6, 21.8 ± 21.3, 81.7 ± 27.0, and 59.5 ± 14.6, respectively. Significant correlations were observed among the three tools. The New York Heart Association functional class showed a notable association with all tool scores. Other associations encompassed EQ‐5D with coronary artery disease, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists, and the 6 min walk test; EQ‐5D VAS with chronic kidney disease; and MLHFQ with age. Conclusions This study illuminates the variance in HR‐QoL measurement tools for Taiwanese HFrEF patients. Using a range of these tools is beneficial in unveiling diverse determinants and approaching comprehensive patient‐centred care. However, for a more precise HR‐QoL assessment in Taiwanese HFrEF patients, recalibrating the EQ‐5D‐derived utility scores might be necessary, emphasizing the importance of patient‐specific considerations within the HF‐PAC programme.

Keywords