Comparison of quality of life measures in heart failure

It is noticeable that the attention of clinical researchers worldwide is increasingly being focused upon the effects of heart failure, which in the past may not have had the attention given to other conditions. Despite a range of innovative treatments, morbidity and mortality rates in heart failure remain high. In this American study, the psychometric properties of three quality of life scales were compared. These were the Chronic Heart Failure Questionnaire (CHFQ), the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (LHFQ), and the General Health Survey Short-form12 (SF-12). A convenience sample of 211 patients with heart failure completed baseline questionnaires via telephone interviews. Follow-up interviews were conducted at four, eight and 26 weeks. A total of 165 patients (78 per cent) completed the study, while 11 patients (5 per cent) died during the course of the research project. Overall, the results indicated that patients had a lowto-moderate health-related quality of life.