Patient's self- reported functional status and health related quality of life: prognostic predictors for 30-day hospital readmission among heart failure patients

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this project was to examine the relationship between self-reported functional status as measured by the New York Heart Failure Association (NYHA) functional classification and health related quality of life (HRQOL) to 30-day hospital readmission rates among patients with Heart Failure (HF). Research question What is the relationship between self-reported functional status and health related quality of life to30-day hospital readmission rates among patients with diagnosis of heart failure? Background Heart failure is the leading cause of hospital readmission among patients, age 65 years and older (Mozzafarian, 2016). An estimated increase of 46% from 2012 to 2030 will result in eight million Americans affected with the disease (CDC, 2016). The increasing number of patients affected by HF is alarming. Various quality improvement projects identified by The Joint Commission (TJC) including discharge planning instructions, arranging transition of care at discharge, measuring left ventricular function, seven day follow-up appointment, and evidence based prescription of medications have been implemented (TJC, 2016). Yet the efforts of this nature have not been associated with lower readmission rates (Bonow et al., 2012; Joynt and Jha, 2013a; Glass, Lisk and Stensland, 2012). The efforts to reduce the preventable hospital readmission rates among this population is a prominent target for change since finding strategies to reduce readmissions would reduce cost and improve patient outcomes. Design and methods A quantitative, descriptive correlational research design (n=66) was used to examine the correlation between the predictor variables, functional status and quality of life, to 30-day hospital readmission rates among patients with HF. The data was collected between November 2017 and January 2018. Institutional Board Review (IRB) approval was obtained from participating study site prior to data collection. Findings The computed chi-square p-value to test the relationship between NYHA functional status classification and 30-day readmission was .044, which is under the required 2 with p Implications The results of this study provide health care providers information about predictors of readmissions among participants diagnosed with HF.