Validation of the Arabic Version of the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire

BackgroundThe Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ) is commonly used to measure quality of life (QOL) in patients with heart failure (HF). We examined the psychometric properties and cultural validity of an Arabic version of the MLHFQ.MethodsAn observational cross-sectional study was conducted with 210 adult HF outpatients. Patients were interviewed with the Arabic MLHFQ and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Cronbach's alpha coefficient and confirmatory factor analysis were conducted. Patients with different NYHA classes and HF-hospitalization histories were compared on QOL to test known-group validity.ResultsThe confirmatory factor analysis yielded 3 factors: physical, emotional, and social. Three items (4, 8, and 15) had low loadings. The overall Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.92. There were significant differences in MLHFQ by PHQ-9 categories, NYHA class, and HF-hospitalization history.ConclusionsThis Arabic version of MLHFQ is valid and reliable and can be used in Arabic-speaking Lebanese HF populations.     

Use of the Minnesota Living With Heart Failure Quality of Life Questionnaire in Spain

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Quality of life is an important end-point in heart failure studies, as well as mortality and hospitalization rates. The Minnesota Living With Heart Failure Questionnaire is the instrument used most widely to evaluate quality of life in research studies. We used this questionnaire to evaluate quality of life in a general population attended by a heart failure unit in Spain. PATIENTS AND METHOD: 326 patients seen for the first time at the unit were evaluated. We analyzed the relationship between the questionnaire score and different clinical and demographic factors. RESULTS: The median global score on the Minnesota Living With Heart Failure Questionnaire was relatively low (28). We found a strong correlation (P<.001) between the score and functional class, sex (women had higher scores), and diabetes. We also found a correlation between the score and number of hospital admissions in the previous year (P<.001), anemia (P<.001) and etiology (P=.01), and a weak trend toward higher scores with increasing age (P=.04). The highest scores were observed in patients with valve disease disorders (43), and the lowest were seen in patients with alcoholic cardiomyopathy (20) and ischemic heart disease (24). We found no correlation with time of evolution of heart failure or with left ventricular ejection fraction. CONCLUSIONS: The scores on the Minnesota Living With Heart Failure Questionnaire in a general population attended by a heart failure unit in Spain were relatively low. However, we found a strong correlation between this score and functional class, and also between this score and number of admissions in the previous year. These results suggest that the questionnaire adequately reflects the severity of the disease.     

Comparative responsiveness of Short-Form 12 and Minnesota Living With Heart Failure Questionnaire in patients with heart failure

BACKGROUND: The Short-Form 12 (SF-12) and Living With Heart Failure Questionnaire (LHFQ) are commonly used to measure quality of life (QOL) in heart failure outcomes research. Their comparative responsiveness, however, has not been documented. METHODS AND RESULTS: A prospective cohort study was conducted among patients attending a university-based heart failure clinic between April 1997 and September 1998. All patients received comprehensive heart failure care management. QOL of patients was assessed by the SF-12 and LHFQ at baseline and 3 months. Of 87 patients completing follow-up, the mean change score was 10.1 for the LHFQ and 5.8 for the SF-12 (both Ps < .001). The change scores of the instruments were correlated (r = 0.61; P < .001). The SF-12 had a greater ability than the LHFQ to statistically detect change in physical health but was less sensitive to changes in mental health. The LHFQ performed better than the SF-12 in the ability to distinguish the differences in perceived global health transition. CONCLUSION: The LHFQ is more responsive than the SF-12 to changes in QOL. The SF-12 should not be used alone to measure the changes in QOL of patients with heart failure.     

Utility of the Minnesota Living With Heart Failure Questionnaire for assessing quality of life in heart failure patients

The Minnesota Living With Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLWHFQ) was used to evaluate the quality of life of patients with heart failure, both before and 6 months after an educational intervention. The study included 99 patients (70 male) with a mean age of 78 years. Significant correlations were found between the MLWHFQ score and the SF-36 score (r=0.41, P=.01), the Barthel Index score (r=-0.23, P=.02), New York Heart Association functional class (r=0.37, P=.01), and the number of readmissions within 6 months (r=0.47, P< .002). Following the intervention, the MLWHFQ score decreased by 34 points (P=.0001). The MLWHFQ score appears to be a useful measure: there were good correlations with functional class and the SF-36 score, and the measure was sensitive to changes in health since there was also a correlation with the patients' prognosis.     

Reliability and validity of the Korean version of the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire

Objective

The aim of this study was to verify the reliability and validity of the Korean language version of the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ) before using this version in clinical practice to assess the quality of care in patients with heart failure in a cardiology clinic.

Methods

The Korean versions of the MLHFQ, 36-Item Short Form Health Survey, and Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale were administered to evaluate the psychometric properties among 154 patients with heart failure in a major cardiac center in Korea. Cardiac function was assessed by evaluating left ventricular ejection fraction values, N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide levels, and New York Heart Association classifications.

Results

The questionnaire content and construct validity were supported by factor analysis. Three factors explained 70.7% of the variance. Total and subtotal scales had correlations with the mental and physical component scores of the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey and Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, supporting the convergent validity of the Korean version of the MLHFQ. We also found that the New York Heart Association classification was associated with the MLHFQ score. The internal consistency of both total and subtotal scales was greater than .80.

Conclusion

The Korean version of the MLHFQ demonstrated excellent psychometric properties. These results support the use of the MLHFQ in Korean patients with heart failure. Further studies are recommended to assess the responsiveness to change of the Korean version of the MLHFQ.     

Relationship between the Minnesota Living With Heart Failure Questionnaire and key ventilatory expired gas measures during exercise testing in patients with heart failure

PURPOSE: This study assessed the relationship between the Minnesota Living With Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLWHFQ) and key ventilatory expired gas measures during a symptom-limited exercise test in the heart failure (HF) population. Specifically, is there evidence to indicate that perceived quality of life (QOL) influences exercise performance independent of physiologic function in the HF population? METHODS: Thirty-one subjects (21 male/10 female), diagnosed with compensated HF, underwent exercise testing and completed the MLWHFQ. Mean age and left ventricular ejection fraction were 52.8 years and 27.2%, respectively. Partial correlation, controlling for age and sex, assessed the relationship between MLWHFQ (overall and subscores) and key ventilatory expired gas measures. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) analysis was used to determine reliability of the MLWHFQ. RESULTS: MLWHQ overall score (mean = 38.9, median = 36.0), physical subscore (mean = 14.8, median = 16.0), and psychosocial/symptomatology subscore (mean = 24.1, median = 19.0), were significantly correlated (P < or =.05) with peak oxygen consumption (VO2). The relationship between MLWHFQ and the minute ventilation-carbon dioxide production (VE/VCO2) slope was, however, not significant. ICC analysis revealed high reliability (0.95) for the MLWHFQ. CONCLUSIONS: The MLWHFQ demonstrates a significant relationship with peak VO2, a measure whose validity is dependent upon subject effort. VE/VCO2 slope, which is independent of subject effort and therefore potentially a better predictor of true physiologic function, does not appear to have a relationship with perceived QOL. These findings have implications for how the MLWHFQ is assessed, related to an exercise test, and used during clinical practice.     

Serum Phosphate and Long-Term Outcome Among Patients With Stable Heart Failure

BackgroundElevated serum phosphate levels are associated with excess risk for cardiovascular mortality in patients with and without chronic kidney disease and with increased risk for incident heart failure. We determined the association of serum phosphate concentrations with disease severity and long-term outcome in patients with overt heart failure.Methods and ResultsClinical and laboratory parameters of 974 ambulatory heart failure patients were evaluated. Prevalence of elevated phosphate levels (>4.5 mg/dL) was 5.8% in men and 6.0% in women. Phosphate was significantly correlated with disease severity as assessed by New York Heart Association class, left ventricular ejection fraction, and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (P < .01, respectively). Multivariate sex-stratified Cox regression analysis adjusted for various clinically relevant covariates revealed baseline phosphate to be independently associated with death from any cause or heart transplantation (HR 1.26 [95% CI 1.04–1.52]; P < .001). This relation was maintained in patients with and without chronic kidney disease. After categorization based on quartiles of phosphate levels, a graded, independent relation between phosphate and outcome was observed (P for trend <.001).ConclusionsWe found a graded, independent relation between serum phosphate and adverse outcome in patients with stable heart failure. Also, serum phosphate was related to disease severity. These findings further highlight the clinical importance of serum phosphate in cardiovascular disease.     

Patterns of Hospital Bypass and Interhospital Transfer Among Patients With Heart Failure

BackgroundWe describe how patient characteristics influence hospital bypass, interhospital transfer, and in-hospital mortality in patients with heart failure in Washington. Rural patients with heart failure may bypass their nearest hospital or be transferred for appropriate therapies. The frequency, determinants, and outcomes of these practices remain uncharacterized.Methods and ResultsMean excess travel times based on hospital and patient residence ZIP codes were calculated using published methods. Hospitals and servicing areas were coded based on bed size and ZIP code, respectively. Transfer patterns were analyzed using bootstrap inference for clusters. Analysis of mortality and transfer-associated factors was performed using logistic regression with generalized estimating equations. There were 48,163 patients, representing 1106 instances of transfer, studied. The mean excess travel time increased 7.14 minutes per decrease in population density (metropolitan, micropolitan, small town, rural; P < .0001). The rural mean excess travel time was greatest at 28.56 minutes. Transfer likelihood increased with younger age, male gender, admitting hospital rurality, higher Charlson Comorbidity Index, and stroke. Transfer was less likely among women (odds ratio [OR], 0.82; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.72–0.94) and patients over 70 years old (OR, 0.15–0.46; 95% CI, 0.10–0.65). Adjusting for comorbidities and transfer propensity, transfer exhibited a stronger association with mortality than any other measured patient risk factor (OR, 2.15; 95% CI, 1.69–2.73), excluding stroke (OR, 7.09; 95% CI, 4.99–10.06).ConclusionsRural hospital bypass is prevalent among patients with heart failure, although its clinical significance is unclear. Female and older patients were found to have a lesser likelihood of transfer adjusted for other factors. Interhospital transfer is associated with increased mortality when adjusted for comorbidities.     

Association of Preeclampsia With Myocardial Injury Among Patients Undergoing Noncardiac Surgery: The PREECLAMPSIA-VISION Study

BackgroundIn women, preeclampsia has a known association with increased long-term cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. However, it is unknown whether it is associated with increased postoperative cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in women. We aimed to determine if preeclampsia is an independent risk factor for myocardial injury after noncardiac surgery (MINS) and postoperative 30-day mortality.MethodsThis study was a large international multicentre cohort study of a representative sample of 40,004 patients recruited from August 2007 to November 2013. Participants were ≥ 45 years of age and underwent inpatient noncardiac surgery. Within this cohort, our study examined women with a history of pregnancy. Using multivariable models, we explored the association between a history of pregnancy affected by preeclampsia and our primary outcome of MINS and secondary outcome of postoperative mortality within 30 days. MINS was defined as prognostically relevant myocardial injury due to ischemia that occurred during or within 30 days after noncardiac surgery.ResultsAnalyses were restricted to the 13,902 participants with a history of pregnancy. Among these women, 976 (7.0%) had a history of preeclampsia. A history of preeclampsia was associated with an increased risk of MINS, with an adjusted hazard ratio of 1.26 (95% confidence interval 1.03-1.53; P = 0.02). Preeclampsia was not significantly associated with 30-day mortality.ConclusionsPreeclampsia is a risk factor for MINS and should be considered in the preoperative cardiovascular risk assessment of women.     

Outcomes and Predictors of Mortality Among Cardiac Intensive Care Unit Patients With Heart Failure

BackgroundLittle is known regarding the causes of critical illness and determinants of prognosis of patients with heart failure (HF) admitted to the modern cardiac intensive care unit (CICU). We sought to describe the epidemiology and outcomes of patients with HF admitted to the contemporary CICU.Methods and ResultsRetrospective cohort analysis of Mayo Clinic CICU patients admitted with HF from 2007 to 2018 who had left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) data. HF with reduced LVEF (HFrEF) was defined as a LVEF of less than 50%, and HF with preserved LVEF (HFpEF) as a LVEF of 50% or greater. In-hospital mortality was analyzed using multivariable logistic regression. Survival to 1 year was analyzed using a Kaplan–Meier analysis. We included 4012 patients, including 67.8% with HFrEF and 32.2% with HFpEF. Patients with HFrEF and HFpEF were comparable and had equivalent severity of illness. Critical care therapies were used in 59.4%, with a slight preponderance in patients with HFrEF. In-hospital mortality occurred in 12.5% of patients and was similar in HFrEF vs HFpEF. Shock and cardiac arrest were the strongest predictors of adjusted in-hospital mortality, followed by Braden skin score and serum chloride level; patients with HFrEF and HFpEF had similar adjusted mortality rates. The 1-year survival after hospital discharge was 74.5% and was slightly lower for patients with HFpEF. All-cause rehospitalization occurred in 36.6%, and 52.8% of hospital survivors died or were readmitted within 1 year.ConclusionsCICU patients with HF have a substantial burden of critical illness, high use of critical care therapies, and poor outcomes regardless of LVEF. This finding emphasizes the potential unmet care needs in this cohort.Lay summaryPatients with heart failure who require admission to the cardiac intensive care unit have high severity of illness and are at significant risk of death during and after hospitalization. These patients often require specialized critical care therapies to treat manifestations of critical illness. Patients who are admitted with cardiac arrest or shock, including those who require mechanical ventilation or vasopressors, are at particularly high risk of death. Patients’ left ventricular ejection fraction is not strongly associated with the risk of death when accounting for other major predictors including frailty and laboratory abnormalities.     

Prediction of Survival in Asian Patients Hospitalized With Heart Failure: Validation of the OPTIMIZE-HF Risk Score

BackgroundRisk scores predicting in-patient mortality in heart failure patients have not been designed specifically for Asian patients. We aimed to validate and recalibrate the OPTIMIZE-HF risk model for in-hospital mortality in a multiethnic Asian population hospitalized for heart failure.Methods and ResultsData from the Singapore Cardiac Databank Heart Failure on patients admitted for heart failure from January 1, 2008, to December 31, 2013, were included. The primary outcome studied was in-hospital mortality. Two models were compared: the original OPTIMIZE-HF risk model and a modified OPTIMIZE-HF risk model (similar variables but with coefficients derived from our cohort). A total of 15,219 patients were included. The overall in-hospital mortality was 1.88% (n = 286). The original model had a C-statistic of 0.739 (95% CI 0.708–0.770) with a good match between predicted and observed mortality rates (Hosmer-Lemeshow statistic 13.8; P = .086). The modified model had a C-statistic of 0.741 (95% CI 0.709–0.773) but a significant difference between predicted and observed mortality rates (Hosmer-Lemeshow statistic 17.2; P = .029). The modified model tended to underestimate risk at the extremes (lowest and highest ends) of risk.ConclusionsWe provide the first independent validation of the OPTIMIZE-HF risk score in an Asian population. This risk model has been shown to perform reliably in our Asian cohort and will potentially provide clinicians with a useful tool to identify high-risk heart failure patients for more intensive management.