The effect of weight management on quality of life in patients with chronic heart failure in Pudong, Shanghai

Abstract

Objective To explore the effect of weight management on quality of life in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) in Pudong, Shanghai. Methods This was a prospective, randomized, controlled study. From June 2014 to June 2016, CHF patients with New York Heart Association (NYHA) class Ⅲ (n=350) admitted to the Department of Cardiology, Guangming Hospital of traditional Chinese medicine were enrolled and divided randomly into weight management group( experimental group) and weight non-management group(control group). The experimental group received weight management guidance and diuretic therapy that was according to changes in body weight. The control group received routine heart failure care. Minnesota Living With Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ), 6-minute walk distance and NYHA functional class were assessed before discharge and 6 months after discharge. Results After six months of follow-up, 12 patients withdrew from the study and a total of 338 patients[weight management group (n=169) and weight non-management group (n=169)]were enrolled for analysis. After 6-month follow up, MLHFQ(28.8±12.4)and 6-minute walk distance(438.6±93.3)m improved significantly in the weight management group (all P 0.05). The proportion of patients with NYHA class I or class II at 6 month in the weight management group was higher than that in the weight non-management group[71.6% (121/169) vs. 21.9% (37/169), P<0.01]. Conclusion Weight management can improve quality of life in patients with CHF. Key words: Body weight; Heart failure; Quality of life