Quality of life assessed 6 months after hospitalisation for acute heart failure: an analysis from REPORT-HF (international REgistry to assess medical Practice with lOngitudinal obseRvation for Treatment of Heart Failure)

Eur J Heart Fail. 2022 Jun;24(6):1020-1029. doi: 10.1002/ejhf.2508. Epub 2022 May 12.

Abstract

Aims: Recovery of well-being after hospitalisation for acute heart failure (AHF) is a measure of the success of interventions and the quality of care but has rarely been quantified. Accordingly, we measured health status after discharge in an international registry (REPORT-HF) of AHF.

Methods and results: The analysis included 4606 patients with AHF who survived to hospital discharge, had known vital status at 6 months, and were enrolled in the United States of America, Russian Federation, or Western Europe, where the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ) was administered. Median age was 69 years (quartiles 59-78), 40% were women, and 34% had a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) <40%, and 12% patients died by 6 months. Of 2475 patients with a follow-up KCCQ, 28% were 'alive and well' (KCCQ >75), while 43% had poor health status (KCCQ ≤50). Being 'alive and well' was associated with new-onset AHF, LVEF <40%, younger age, higher baseline KCCQ, country, and race. Associations were similar for increasing health status, with the exception of country and addition of comorbidities.

Conclusion: In this international global registry, health status recovery after AHF hospitalisation was highly variable. Those with the best health status at 6 months were younger, had new-onset heart failure, and higher baseline KCCQ; nearly one-third of survivors were 'alive and well'. Investigating reasons for changes in KCCQ after hospitalisation might identify new therapeutic targets to improve patient-centred outcomes.

Keywords: Acute heart failure; Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire; Post-discharge health status.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Female
  • Health Status
  • Heart Failure* / drug therapy
  • Heart Failure* / therapy
  • Hospitalization
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Quality of Life*
  • Registries
  • Stroke Volume
  • United States / epidemiology
  • Ventricular Function, Left