Knowledge, Adherence to Lifestyle Recommendations, and Quality of Life Among Koreans With Heart Failure

Abstract

Objective: To assess heart failure (HF) knowledge, adherence to lifestyle recommendations, and quality of life (QOL) among Koreans with HF and identify factors influencing QOL. Methods: A cross-sectional and correlational design was used and a total of 142 Koreans with HF were recruited between April 2012 and September 2013. Data were analyzed using multiple logistic regression with SPSS version 21.0. Results: The mean age of participants was 64.1 ± 7.4 years. A higher proportion of participants were male, married, unemployed, had a high education level, and class I New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional status. A higher proportion of participants had ≥2 comorbidities and the most prevalent comorbidity was diabetes. The mean score of HF knowledge was 6.9 (possible range 0-15) and the most frequent incorrect items were “proper actions to reduce thirst” and “causes of leg swelling” in both better and worse QOL groups. Among the recommended lifestyle, pneumococcal vaccination had the least adherence in both groups. Multiple logistic regression showed that patients in NYHA class I, with a higher left ventricular ejection fraction, who had knowledge of “amount of fluid intake a day” and consumed more than moderate alcohol tended to have better QOL. Conclusion: More active interventions targeting HF knowledge in proper actions to reduce thirst, causes of leg swelling, and the amount of fluid intake per day are required. Patients with HF in more serious condition need special attention regarding the risk of worse QOL. The role of alcohol consumption in QOL among HF patients in Korea needs further exploration.

Health-related quality of life and its influencing factors among people with heart failure in Ethiopia: using the revised Wilson and Cleary model

“…This finding is consistent with the previous www.nature.com/scientificreports/ similar studies that have shown the negative impact of HF on the physical, emotional and the general aspects of HRQoL 34,38,57 . The mean total MLHFQ score of the current study was higher than similar studies conducted in Brazil [58][59][60] , China 61 , Myanmar 1 , South Korea 16,62 and Thailand 17 . The higher MLHFQ score in our population could be due to the cohort age as most participants were aged 40-69 years and had higher rate of depression than reported in studies from countries.…”

The relationship between preference-based health-related quality of life and lifestyle behavior: a cross-sectional study on a community sample of adults who had undergone a health check-up

“…Drinking can be considered to have a positive influence on HRQL, since as indicated in several previous studies [ 17 – 19 ], moderate alcohol consumption has an effect of preventing cardiac disease. In South Korea, abstinence from alcohol consumption resulted in a higher quality of life for elderly people living in the community [ 20 ], while people in NYHA class I who consume moderate amounts of alcohol tend to have a better quality of life [ 21 ]. Since the present study targeted adults over 21 years old, moderate alcohol intake is considered to have a positive influence on HRQL for all generations.…”