Factors associated with health-related quality of life in Chinese patients with heart failure: a cross-sectional study

Background: In order to develop effective interventions targeting improvement in poor HRQOL, it is necessary to understand the factors that influence HRQOL and the relationships in patients with heart failure. Aim: The purpose of this study was to examine factors associated with HRQOL and the relationships in patients with heart failure. Methods: A cross-sectional survey design was utilised to survey 301 heart failure patients in a hospital. Participants completed measures of social support, symptom status, functional status, HRQOL, demographic and disease characteristics. Structural equation modeling was used to test the hypothesised model. Results: Structural equation modeling revealed that symptom status, functional status, NYHA, age, residence, marital status, monthly income, number of hospitalizations, LVEF, disease duration, and social support are factors that influence HRQOL. The hypothesised model showed reasonably adequate fit (chi(2) = 11.941 (df = 14, P = 0.611), RMSEA=0.000, CFI=1.000, AGFI=0.963; GFI=0.993, NFI=0.988). Functional status played a mediating role in the association between symptom status and HRQOL and Physical Component Summary (PCS). Conclusions: To enhance HRQOL, doctors and caregivers should take these influential factors, especially symptom status and functional status, into account. Interventions focused on reinforcement of symptom management and assessment of functional status may promote HRQOL in patients with HF directly and indirectly. (C) 2020 Australian College of Nursing Ltd. Published by Elsevier Ltd.