Health-related quality of life among cardiovascular patients enrolled in adult cardiology clinic in a tertiary hospital

Abstract

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Background Determining the level of health-related quality of life among cardiovascular patients and looking into the demographic factors and clinical characteristics that might influence the dynamics of their physical and mental health are highly essential for health practitioners to improve current management procedures and interventions. Objective The study was conducted to evaluate the level of health-related quality of life among cardiac patients seen in adult cardiology clinic. Methods This study used a descriptive research design. A total of 117 cardiac patients at the adult Cardiology Clinic in a Tertiary Hospital were interviewed using the MOS-SF – 36 Questionnaire. Statistical correlation analysis was then performed. Results The results showed that the patients are challenged in their physical functioning and general mental health with an average score of 33.33 ± 33.33 aside from their average median score of 55 ± 0.0 in their role limitations due to physical health. In terms of mental health, higher score was reflected for vitality (75 ± 12.5), followed by emotional well-being (67.5 ± 20.0). Demographic and clinical factors that affect their quality of life were also determined. Marital status, family income, educational attainment and participation on cardiac rehabilitation program affect their quality of life. Married, income above Php10,000, college level, college graduate or with post graduate degree and those who participated in the cardiac rehabilitation program have higher level of physical health (W = 1127; p=.007; W = 1729.5; p=.024; W = 1300; p=.043). Consistently, those who are married, a family income of above Php10,000 and are aware on cardiac rehabilitation have higher level of mental health (W = 1189; p=.019; W = 1895; p=.001; W = 1187; p=.005). Although not statistically significant, an increase in age is associated with decrease in the physical health (r=-.176; p=.058). It should not also be discounted that those patients who are employed have higher level of physical health than those who were unemployed (W = 1729.5; p=.052). Moreover, health change are higher for those who participated in the cardiac rehabilitation program (W = 960; p=.003). On clinical characteristics, those who underwent interventions have higher level of health change than those who only received medical management (W = 100.0; p<.001). Mental health was also seen to be higher in those patients with no history of smoking and with >40% left ventricular ejection fraction (W = 264.5; p=.005). Conclusion This study concludes that those patients who are married, employed, with income above Php10,000, who have higher educational status, non-smoker, LVEF of more than 40%, who received interventions and who underwent cardiac rehabilitation have higher level of quality of life.