Abstract:
Background: Heart failure (HF) is a global health issue, with a worldwide incidence of 5.7
million cases annually. Heart failure is an escalating public health problem in the United States
and around the world. Living with chronic heart failure (CHF) is distressful & affects daily life.
People with heart failure also experience major reductions in their health related quality of life
and frequent hospital admissions. Because of lack of cure for CHF, there has been a progressive
interest in using health-related quality of life (Hr-QoL) as an outcome measurement of the
treatment in patients with Chronic Heart Failure.
Objectives: The main aim of this study was to determine the relationship of symptom burden and
health related quality of life in patients with heart failure attending Jimma University
Specialized Hospital (JUSH) chronic illness clinic.
Methods: A cross-sectional qualitative and quantitative study in which 223 participants and 9
key informants were involved was conducted from February 10 to April 10, 2011 in JUSH.
Symptoms and Hr-QoL were assessed using locally adapted version of the Memorial Symptom
Assessment Scale—Heart Failure and the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire.
Data was analyzed using SPSS windows version 16.0 and manually, bivariate and multivariable
logistic regression analyses were employed and the findings of the study were presented by using
statements, tables and figures. The significant findings were declared at p-v <0.05.
Result: From the 223 study participants about 196 (87.9%) have poor health related quality of
life. Majority of the respondents 202(90.6%) said the symptoms they were experiencing are
affected their quality of daily living in different ways. Of the 32 possible symptoms, the mean
number of symptoms a patient had was 10.79+5.3. High-prevalence symptoms (>50% of the
sample) include lack of energy (86.5%), shortness of breath (81.2%), palpitation (68.6%),
feeling drowsy(57.8%), chest pain (57.8%), orthopnea (57.8%), cough (55.6%), waking
breathlessness at night (52.5%), and lack of appetite (52%). Lack of energy and dizziness were
the most burdensome symptom.
Conclusion and recommendation: Patients with heart failure experience high level of symptoms
and symptom burden. Nurses should target interventions to decrease frequency, severity, distress
and overall symptom burden and improve HRQOL
