Age and gender differences and factors related to change in health-related quality of life from before to 6 months after left ventricular assist device implantation: Findings from Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support

Kathleen L. Grady*, Wissman Sherri Wissman, David C. Naftel, Susan Myers, Annetine Gelijins, Alan Moskowitz, Francis D. Pagani, James B. Young, John A. Spertus, James K. Kirklin

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

58 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background Gaps in the literature exist regarding health-related quality of life (HRQOL) early after left ventricular assist device (LVAD) surgery. The purposes of our study were to describe HRQOL over time, by age and gender, and identify risk factors for poor HRQOL early after LVAD implant. Methods Patients (n = 7,353) from the Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support (INTERMACS) database received a continuous-flow LVAD as a primary implant at 133 United States hospitals. Of these, 5,640 patients had pre-LVAD HRQOL data, 3,353 patients had 6-month post-LVAD HRQOL data, and 2,748 patients had data at both times. HRQOL was measured using the EQ-5D-3L (Euro-Qol) instrument. Data were collected pre-implant and 3 and 6 months post-operatively. Statistical analyses included chi-square test, t-test, Pearson correlation coefficients, and multiple regression analysis. Results Overall HRQOL and dimensions of HRQOL improved from before to 6 months after device implant when examined by age and gender. However, younger patients and women reported significantly more problems regarding all dimensions before implant and significantly more problems regarding pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression at 3 and 6 months after implant. An increase in overall HRQOL from before to 6 months after implant was related to pre-implant INTERMACS Level 1. Factors related to a decrease in HRQOL from before to 6 months after implant were listed for heart transplant before surgery, comorbidities, better preoperative HRQOL, adverse events within 6 months after implant, bridge to transplant moderately likely and unlikely, and New York Heart Association Functional Classification IV at 6 months after LVAD (R2 = 41%). Conclusions Overall HRQOL and dimensions of HRQOL improve in sub-groups of patients from before to 6 months after surgery, although differences in improvement exist. Adverse events are risk factors for decreased HRQOL across time and support the ongoing need to improve device technology with the aim of reducing adverse events.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)777-788
Number of pages12
JournalJournal of Heart and Lung Transplantation
Volume35
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 1 2016

Keywords

  • age
  • gender
  • health-related quality of life
  • left ventricular assist device
  • risk factors

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Surgery
  • Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine
  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Transplantation

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