title: Health related quality of life in patients awaiting heart transplantation.
abstract: Quality of life is an important outcome measure in patients with end-stage heart failure waiting for heart transplantation. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between aspects of quality of life and physiological and psychosocial variables in patients with end-stage heart failure. A total of 123 patients participated in the study. The functional status was assessed with New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional classification, a 6-minute walk test (6 MWT) and peak oxygen uptake (pVO(2)). Health related quality of life (HRQOL) was measured with Medical Outcomes Study, 36-item Short Form Survey (SF-36), and Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ). Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) were used to assess psychological symptoms. A significant relationship was found between HRQOL (SF-36 and MLHFQ) and functional status (NYHA, 6 MWT and pVO(2)) (p < 0.05). Psychological symptoms (BDI) were associated with HRQOL (p < 0.05). In addition to clinical derangements, functional limitation and psychological distress can lead to limitations in activities of daily life through impairment of quality of life. It would be helpful to evaluate psychological symptoms and quality of life in patients with end-stage heart failure besides routine clinical evaluations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Ege University Medical Faculty, Izmir, Turkey. haleuzun76@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Hale
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Karapolat
authors.forename: Sibel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Eyigor
authors.forename: Mehdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zoghi
authors.forename: Sanem
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nalbantgil
authors.forename: Tahir
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yagdi
authors.forename: Berrin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Durmaz
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ozbaran
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015308:Anaerobic Threshold / Q000502:physiology; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery; D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology