The clinical relevance of quality of life in heart failure patients with preserved ejection fraction

Aims Patient reported outcomes (PROs) are gradually being incorporated into daily practice to assess individual health-related quality of life (QOL). However, despite accumulating evidence of the prognostic utility of heart failure (HF)-specific QOL indices, evidence on the generic QOL score is scarce, especially in patients with HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Methods and results Patient data were extracted from the Prospective mUlticenteR obServational stUdy of patIenTs with Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction (PURSUIT HFpEF) study. EuroQol 5 dimensions 5-level (EQ-5D-5L) data were obtained at discharge to evaluate patients' health-related QOL. The study population (n = 864) was divided into tertiles based on their EQ-5D-5L index as follows: low EQ-5D-5L 0.038-0.664 (n = 287), middle EQ-5D-5L 0.665-0.867 (n = 293), and high EQ-5D-5L 0.871-1.000 (n = 284). A total of 206 patients died over a mean follow-up period of 2.0 +/- 1.2 years. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that the risk of mortality increased with the tertile of the EQ-5D-5L index (34% vs. 23% vs. 14%, P < 0.001). Cox multivariable analysis revealed that patients with EQ-5D-5L index in the low and middle tertiles had a significantly greater risk of mortality than those with EQ-5D-5L index in the high tertile [low EQ-5D-5L: adjusted hazard ratio (HR): 1.81 (1.12-2.92), P = 0.002, middle EQ-5D-5L: adjusted HR 1.91 (1.21-3.03), P = 0.006]. Among the dimensions of EQ-5D-5L, mobility (P = 0.014), self-care (P = 0.023) and usual activities (P = 0.008) were significant factors associated with all-cause mortality after multivariable adjustment. Conclusions EQ-5D-5L is useful tool for risk stratification in patients with HFpEF.