Predictors and effect of physical symptom status on health-related quality of life in patients with heart failure.
BACKGROUND
Physical symptoms are common and distressing problems for patients with heart failure and may be the strongest predictor of health-related quality of life. Identification of variables predictive of physical symptom status is needed to develop effective interventions to improve health-related quality of life.


METHODS
A total of 84 patients discharged after being hospitalized for exacerbation of heart failure were followed up for 3 months. The Minnesota Living With Heart Failure Questionnaire and the Dyspnea-Fatigue Index were used to assess health-related quality of life and physical symptom status, respectively. Relationships of health-related quality of life and physical symptom status to baseline demographic, behavioral, biophysiological, and psychological variables were examined with bivariate correlations and stepwise multiple regression analyses.


RESULTS
Patients with better physical symptom status and those who worked, were older, and were less anxious at baseline reported better health-related quality of life (F=12.4, P<.001); physical symptom status was the strongest predictor. Patients who had less depression, worked, had higher perceived control, and were younger at baseline reported better physical symptom status (F=14.4, P<.001); depression was the strongest predictor.


CONCLUSIONS
Physical symptom status is the most important predictor of health-related quality of life, and baseline depression and perceived control are the best predictors of physical symptom status. Interventions targeted to improve psychological status may improve physical symptom status and thereby improve health-related quality of life.
Heo
Seongkum
S
Indiana University School of Nursing, 1111 Middle Drive, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA. heo2@iupui.edu
Doering
Lynn V
LV
Widener
Jeanne
J
Moser
Debra K
DK
D000368:Aged; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000150:complications* / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life