Fragility impacts quality of life in heart failure

Fragility impacts quality of life in heart failure

(HealthDay)—For patients with heart failure, fragility is associated with the perception of quality of life, according to a study published in the Dec. 1 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.

Paloma Gastelurrutia, Ph.D., from the Germans Trias i Pujol Health Research Institute in Badalona, Spain, and colleagues examined whether fragility affects the perception of quality of in outpatients with . Quality of life was assessed for 1,405 outpatients with heart failure (27.8 percent women; , 69 years) using the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLWHFQ).

The researchers found that 44.2 percent of patients had fragility, defined as at least one abnormal evaluation, with the most prevalent component of fragility (31.2 percent) being a positive depression response on the abbreviated Geriatric Depression Scale. MLWHFQ score was strongly correlated with the presence of fragility and fragility components (all associations P < 0.001). In both younger (<75 years) and older (≥75 years) patients, these associations prevailed. Quality of life remained significantly associated with fragility in multivariate analysis, after adjustment for age, gender, etiology of heart failure, left ventricular ejection faction, New York Heart Association functional class, comorbidities, and heart failure treatment, in older and younger patients (P < 0.001).

"In conclusion, MLWHFQ, a specific heart failure quality-of-life questionnaire, is significantly influenced by fragility regardless of age," the authors write.

More information: Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)

Journal information: American Journal of Cardiology

Copyright © 2013 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

Citation: Fragility impacts quality of life in heart failure (2013, December 3) retrieved 19 March 2024 from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-12-fragility-impacts-quality-life-heart.html
This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.

Explore further

Argument for coverage of cardiac rehab, counseling for stable CHF

 shares

Feedback to editors