Quality of life in patients with signs and symptoms of heart failure--does systolic function matter?
BACKGROUND
The impaired quality of life in patients with systolic heart failure is well described. Less is known about patients with preserved systolic function (PSF) heart failure.


RESULTS
We aimed to compare the quality of life in patients with PSF heart failure with that of those with left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) using generic and disease-specific quality-of-life questionnaires. Four hundred patients with signs and symptoms of heart failure referred for an echocardiogram to assess left ventricular function were invited to complete quality-of-life questionnaires. A total of 278 of 400 (69.5%) responses were adequate for analysis. The mean age of respondents was 72.5 (10) years; 132 (47%) were male. A total of 189 of 278 (68%) had PSF, and 89 of 278 (32%) had left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD). Both groups were well matched for age, but there were more women in the PSF group (58% vs. 40%). No significant differences were found in the quality of life between PSF and LVSD patients. Women had significantly worse quality of life compared with men in both groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with PSF are an important subgroup of heart failure patients whose quality of life is as impaired as those with systolic dysfunction. These data suggest these patients warrant more care, perhaps in specialist clinics.
Rao
Archana
A
Cardiothoracic Centre, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
Asadi-Lari
Mohsen
M
Walsh
John
J
Wilcox
Robert
R
Gray
David
D
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002303:Cardiac Output, Low / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006321:Heart / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D013147:Spirometry; D013599:Systole