Baseline Quality-of-Life of Caregivers of Patients With Heart Failure Prior to Advanced Therapies: Findings From the Sustaining Quality of Life of the Aged: Transplant or Mechanical Support (SUSTAIN-IT) Study

M. G. PETTY*, T. WU, A. C. ANDREI, A. BALDRIDGE, A. WARZECHA, A. KAO, J. SPERTUS, E. HSICH, M. A. DEW, D. PHAM, C. YANCY, J. HARTUPEE, W. COTTS, S. V. PAMBOUKIAN, F. PAGANI, B. LAMPERT, M. JOHNSON, M. MURRAY, K. TEKEDA, M. YUZEFPOLSKAYAS. SILVESTRY, J. K. KIRKLIN, K. L. GRADY

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: We compared health-related quality of life (HRQOL), depressive symptoms, anxiety, and burden in caregivers of older patients with heart failure based on the intended therapy goal of the patient: awaiting heart transplantation (HT) with or without mechanical circulatory support (MCS) or prior to long-term MCS; and we identified factors associated with HRQOL. Methods: Caregivers (n = 281) recruited from 13 HT and MCS programs in the United States completed measures of HRQOL (EQ-5D-3L), depressive symptoms (PHQ-8), anxiety (STAI-state), and burden (Oberst Caregiving Burden Scale). Analyses included ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis tests, χ2 tests, and linear regression. Results: The majority of caregivers were female, white spouses with ≤ 2 comorbidities, median [Q1,Q3] age = 62 [57.8, 67.0] years. Caregivers (HT with MCS = 87, HT without MCS = 98, long-term MCS = 96) reported similarly high baseline HRQOL (EQ-5D-3L visual analog scale median score = 90; P = 0.67 for all groups) and low levels of depressive symptoms. STAI-state median scores were higher in the long-term MCS group vs the HT groups with and without MCS, (38 vs 32 vs 31; P < 0.001), respectively. Burden (task: time spent/difficulty) differed significantly among groups. Caregiver factors (number of comorbidities, diabetes and higher anxiety levels) were significantly associated with worse caregiver HRQOL, R2 = 26%. Conclusions: Recognizing caregiver-specific factors, including comorbidities and anxiety, associated with the HRQOL of caregivers of these older patients with advanced HF may guide support strategies.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1137-1148
Number of pages12
JournalJournal of Cardiac Failure
Volume28
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 2022

Keywords

  • Caregiver
  • health-related quality of life (HRQOL)
  • heart failure
  • heart transplant
  • mechanical circulatory support

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

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