Approximately 5 million individuals have heart failure in the United States. The 1-year mortality rate for patients with New York Heart Association class IV heart failure is 50%. Treatment options for patients with refractory symptoms and stage D heart failure include heart transplantation and mechanical circulatory support devices. Improved outcomes have been demonstrated in these advanced heart failure patients who undergo surgical therapies. Prolongation of life is relevant only if quality of life (QOL) is improved.
Improvement in QOL outcomes has been demonstrated before and after heart transplantation, including improved outcomes when bridged to transplantation with left ventricular assist devices (LVADs). While listed for transplantation, worse QOL is significantly related to more symptoms, psychological distress, and functional disability. Patients who are bridged to heart transplantation with an LVAD report significantly improved QOL and decreased symptoms from before to early after LVAD implantation, as well as fairly good and stable QOL outcomes through 1 year after implantation.
At 1 year after transplantation, better QOL is significantly related to less psychological distress, functional disability, and symptom distress; older age; and fewer complications. At 5 to 10 years after heart transplantation, QOL is positive and stable. Improved QOL is significantly related to biopsychosocial variables, including less depression, more positive emotions, more social support, and less fatigue. Thus, for stage D heart failure patients, heart transplantation conveys significant short-and long-term QOL benefit, including in those patients who are bridged to transplantation with an LVAD.
Perceived social support and self-care in patients hospitalized with heart failure