[Quality of life in patients with heart failure]

The objective of this work was to determine the quality of life in patients with heart failure using the SF-36 and Minnesota questionnaire and to determine the importance of applying Framingham criteria as predictors of the value of these questionnaires.

This cross-sectional study analyzed the quality of life in 120 subjects of both sexes and all age groups suffering from heart failure, according to the severity of clinical presentation. Subjects were divided into 4 equal groups according to NYHA classification of heart failure. Selection of subjects was made using the Framingham criteria for confirming already diagnosed heart failure. Control group included 30 patients not suffering from heart failure. Quality of life was assessed by use of the SF-36 and Minnesota questionnaire.

In the study population of 150 subjects, there were 76 (51%) male and 74 (49%) female subjects divided into 4 NYHA groups of 30 subjects (20.0%) and control group of 30 subjects (20.0%). The analysis of within-group sex representation yielded no statistically significant difference (chi2 = 1.70, df = 4; p = 0.79). There was no statistically significant between-group age difference either (ANOVA, F = 0.74; p = 0.57). The values of SF-36 and Minnesota score expressed as median in the control and 4 NYHA groups were 98.6, 90.76, 70.14, 36.45 and 25.41 (Ht = 116.84; p < 0.0001) and 0.0, 0.47, 1.64, 2.99 and 3.42 (Ht = 113.42; p < 0.0001), respectively. The correlation coefficient r between heart failure NYHA classes expressed in the values of SF-36 and Minnesota score was r = -0950; p < 0.0001 and r = 0.931; p < 0.0001, respectively. The correlation coefficient r between the number of major and minor Framingham criteria and the values of SF-36 and Minnesota score was r = -0.790, -0.660; p < 0.0001 and r = 0.774, 0.671; p < 0.0001, respectively.

The findings suggested that the quality of life in patients with heart failure was impaired and associated with the severity of clinical presentation, and that Framingham criteria could serve as significant predictors of the value of SF-36 and Minnesota scores and quality of life in patients with heart failure.