title: Quality of Life and Influential Factors in Patients Implanted With a Left Ventricular Assist Device.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Improving quality of life (QOL) has become an important goal in left ventricular assist device (LVAD) therapy. We aimed (1) to assess the effect of an implantable LVAD on patients' QOL, (2) to compare LVAD patients' QOL to that of patients in different stages of heart failure (HF), and (3) to identify factors associated with patients' QOL.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The QOL of 33 Japanese implantable LVAD patients was assessed using the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ) and Short-form 8 (SF-8), before and at 3 and 6 months afterwards. After LVAD implantation, QOL significantly improved [MLHFQ, SF-8 physical component score (PCS), SF-8 mental component score (MCS), all P<0.05]. Implanted LVAD patients had a better QOL than extracorporeal LVAD patients (n=33, 32.1±21.9 vs. n=17, 47.6±18.2), and Stage D HF patients (n=32, 51.1±17.3), but the score was comparable to that of patients who had undergone a heart transplant (n=13). In multiple regression analyses, postoperative lower albumin concentration and right ventricular failure were independently associated with poorer PCS. Female sex and postoperative anxiety were 2 of the independent factors for poorer MCS (all P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Having an implantable LVAD improves patients' QOL, which is better than that of patients with an extracorporeal LVAD. Both clinical and psychological factors are influence QOL after LVAD implantation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Therapeutic Strategy for Heart Failure, The University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine.
authors.forename: Naoko P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: Ikuko
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Okada
authors.forename: Teruhiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Imamura
authors.forename: Yukie
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kagami
authors.forename: Miyoko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Endo
authors.forename: Daisuke
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nitta
authors.forename: Takeo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fujino
authors.forename: Hironori
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Muraoka
authors.forename: Shun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Minatsuki
authors.forename: Hisataka
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Maki
authors.forename: Toshiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Inaba
authors.forename: Osamu
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kinoshita
authors.forename: Kan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nawata
authors.forename: Masaru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hatano
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: Shunei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kyo
authors.forename: Minoru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ono
authors.forename: Tiny
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jaarsma
authors.forename: Koichiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kinugawa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery; D016027:Heart Transplantation; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D018497:Ventricular Dysfunction, Right / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology