Predictors of poor quality of life in chronic heart failure in Northeast Nigeria

CONTEXT: Despite the advancements in the management of heart failure, several studies have shown poor quality of life (QoL) in heart failure. Health-related QoL is now a measure of outcome in the management of chronic heart failure (CHF). However, few studies have been done to determine the predictors of poor QoL in heart failure patients in sub-Saharan Africa. AIMS: This study aims to determine the predictors of poor QoL in CHF in Northeast Nigeria. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: The study was carried out at the cardiology unit, Department of Medicine, Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe. It is a 500-bed capacity tertiary health institution serving residents of Gombe state as well as neighboring states. This was a cross-sectional study that assessed the predictors of poor QoL in CHF. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: One hundred and ten consented CHF patients from the cardiology clinic at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe, Northeast Nigeria, were recruited for the cross-sectional study. Relevant sociodemographic and clinical details were obtained, followed by sequential administration of the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ). Echocardiography was also performed. The parameters obtained were then analyzed to determine the predictors of poor QoL. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) (version 22, SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). RESULTS: There were 34 (30.9%) males and 76 (69.1%) females with a male: female ratio of 1:2.3. The mean age was 45 ± 18.3 years. Only 20 (18.2%) of the study population had a tertiary education. The mean duration of heart failure and prior hospitalization was 41.3 ± 48.4 months and 2 ± 2.4 times, respectively. High medication adherence was found in 50 (45.5%) patients. The mean ejection fraction was 42.8 ± 15. The mean KCCQ score of the study population was 72.3 ± 10. CONCLUSIONS: The study showed that lower levels of education, frequent hospitalizations, and poor medication adherence are independent predictors of poor QoL among patients with heart failure. No relationship between age, gender, socioeconomic status, duration, and cause of heart failure.