Predictors of quality of life at 1 month after implantation of a left ventricular assist device.
OBJECTIVE
To describe quality-of-life outcomes; determine relationships between quality of life and demographic, physical, psychosocial, and clinical variables; and identify predictors of quality of life at 1 month after implantation of a left ventricular assist device.


METHODS
Patients who received either an implantable pneumatic (n = 38) or a vented electric (n = 54) left ventricular assist device as a bridge to heart transplantation between August 1, 1994, and August 31, 1999, completed 6 instruments used to measure quality of life andfactors related to quality of life. Data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlations, Mann-Whitney U tests, and forward, stepwise multiple regression.


RESULTS
Overall satisfaction with quality of life was quite high as determined from the total score on the Quality of Life Index (mean = 0.69). Patients were very satisfied with the implantation and thought that they would do well after future heart transplant surgery. Patients had a moderate level of stress. Significant predictors of overall quality of life were psychological symptoms, stress, and race; these accounted for 46% of variance in quality of life.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients were satisfied with their quality of life at 1 month after implantation of a left ventricular assist device. However, they were least satisfied with their health and functioning and yet were optimistic about how well they thought they would do after heart transplantation. Psychological factors were the strongest predictors of satisfaction with overall quality of life.
Grady
Kathleen L
KL
Rush-Presbyterian-St Luke's Medical Center, Chicago, Ill, USA.
Meyer
Peter
P
Mattea
Annette
A
Dressler
Diane
D
Ormaza
Sophia
S
White-Williams
Connie
C
Chillcott
Suzanne
S
Kaan
Annemarie
A
Todd
Barbara
B
Loo
Alice
A
Klemme
Annette L
AL
Piccione
William
W
Costanzo
Maria Rosa
MR
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery*; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000601:surgery*