Quality of life and palliative care needs of elderly patients with advanced heart failure.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the quality of life and palliative care needs of elderly patients with advanced heart failure (HF).


METHODS
This was a correlation descriptive study conducted at a 650-bed sub-acute hospital. Patients who were aged 65 or over, diagnosed with HF of New York Heart Association Class III or IV symptoms, and mentally sound were eligible to the study. The Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale, the overall quality of life single item scale, and the McQill Quality of Life Questionnaire (MQoL), were used for measurement. Multiple regression analysis was performed to determine factors for predicting quality of life.


RESULTS
A convenience sample of 112 patients was recruited. Their age was 81.5 ± 8.5 years. The three most distressing symptoms reported by the patients were tiredness (5.96 ± 2.78), drowsiness (5.47 ± 2.93), and shortness of breath (5.34 ± 2.96). Their mean overall quality of life single item scale score was 4.72 ± 2.06 out of 10. The mean MQoL physical subscale score was the lowest (4.20 ± 1.767), whereas their mean psychological subscale was the highest (7.14 ± 2.39). However, in a multivariate analysis model, quality of life was significantly associated with existential wellbeing, physical wellbeing, psychological wellbeing and educational level.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings highlight that spiritual concerns are significant palliative care needs among elderly patients with advanced HF, in addition to symptom management. This is in line with the argument that palliative care that places great emphasis on holistic care should be integrated to the care of this group of patients.
The Nethersole School of Nursing, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
Helen Yl
HY
Chan
The Nethersole School of Nursing, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
Doris Sf
DS
Yu
The Nethersole School of Nursing, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
Doris Yp
DY
Leung
The Nethersole School of Nursing, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
Aileen Wk
AW
Chan
Department of Medicine and Geriatrics, Shatin Hospital, Hong Kong, China.
Elsie
E
Hui
Assessment; Heart failure; Palliative care; The elderly