Illness perception and quality of life among individuals with chronic heart failure

Abstract

Background: Chronic heart failure contributes to multiple physical symptoms and limitations, altering illness perceptions and affecting the quality of life. Understanding what domains of illness perceptions and quality of life are affected by chronic heart failure is crucial in optimising disease management. Additionally, it is important to identify which demographic and clinical characteristics may affect this cohort's illness perceptions and quality of life. Objectives: To assess the illness perception and quality of life of individuals with chronic heart failure, their relationship with demographic and clinical characteristics, and assess the correlation between illness perception and quality of life. Study design: Cross-sectional study Sample and setting: 248 individuals diagnosed with chronic heart failure, aged 18 years or over, of all genders were conveniently recruited from the Heart Failure Clinic at an acute general hospital in Malta. Methods: The Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (Weinmann et al., 1996), and the brief Cardiomyopathy questionnaire (John Spertus 2012), were used to compile information on the participants characteristics, their illness perception on chronic heart failure and their level of quality of life. Research instruments were provided in both English and Maltese. Data was analysed using SPSS version 28.0.0.0. Statistical tests used were the Pearson correlation, the Spearman correlation, the independent sample t-test, the Mann-Whitney U test, the One-way ANOVA and the Kruskal-Wallis H. Results: Results related to illness perception showed that participants felt that CHF had moderate effect on their lives. Levels of quality of lives were also found to be moderate. Additionally, an association between demographic variables and the measured attributes was found. A positive correlation between characteristics affected these results as well. A positive correlation was found between illness perception and quality of life (p=<0.001). The more positive the illness perceptions the better the quality of life, this trend was also identified among various demographic characteristics. Conclusions: Health care professionals should consider patients’ illness perception and quality of life as an essential assessment component to ensure a person-centred approach and improve the overall health.