Prevalence of Quality of Life and Physical Activity in Patients with Different Stages of Heart Failure – An Observational Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Heart failure (HF) is an escalating health problem around the world. HF is a highly prevalent disorder worldwide, with a high morbidity and mortality rate. Maintaining a good quality of life (QOL) and physical activity are as important as survival to patients living with HF. Individuals with HF have markedly impaired QOL compared with other chronic diseases and healthy population. Different stages of HF in physical activity and QOL have not been studied in India. Hence, aim of the study was to find out the prevalence of physical activity and QOL patients with HF. Methodology: After calculating the sample size, 301 patients diagnosed with HF who were managed medically were selected for this study with fulfilling criteria. The Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire and International PhysicalActivity Questionnaire were used to screen the patients. Outcome measures were QOL, physical activity, ejection fraction (EF), Heart Failure Classification (HFC) New York Heart Association and American Heart Association (AHA) Stages. Results: The mean age of the patients was 53 ± 13.56, including 53.82% males and 45.84% females. Among them, occupation data show 58.13% have labourer work, socioeconomical data show 28.30% of patients have upper middle class. Co-morbidity data shows 13.28% patients have hypertension (HTN), 39.20% have diabetes mellitus (DM), and 22.25% patients have both. Among 301, 30.23% of patients have HFC 3 and 38.53% of patients have AHA Stages B. This study shows 19.60%, 46.17%, and 34.21% good, moderate, and poor QOL, respectively. The prevalence of physical Activity was found to be 81.06% low, 15.61% moderate, and 3.32% high. According to EF prevalence, 79.73% have a reduced EF. Conclusion: Patients with different HF stages experienced impaired QOL and lowest physical activity. Low physical activity and moderate QOL can be improved by early rehabilitation.