Marital status, quality of life, and clinical outcome in patients with heart failure

AIM: This study investigated the impact of having a partner on quality of life (QoL), the number of hospital readmissions, and 9-month survival in patients with heart failure (HF).

METHODS: The study population consisted of hospitalized patients with HF. QoL was measured by the Cantril Ladder of Life (0-10) during hospital admission. Clinical data, readmission rate, and number of deaths were registered by patient interview and chart review.

RESULTS: Of the 179 patients, 96 (54%) were married or were living with a partner. Differences in QoL between married patients and those living alone were most pronounced with regard to future expectations of QoL (6.5 vs 5.0, P=.00). However, in a multivariate model QoL was primarily associated with socioeconomic status, age, and gender. Married patients had 12% less events in the 9-month follow-up period compared with patients living alone (P=not significant).

CONCLUSION: This study indicates that most patients with HF who are living alone are mostly elderly women with a low socioeconomic status, who are at risk for recurrent events and a worse QoL.