Quality of Life in Heart Failure: An Important Goal in Treatment

Brazil is the country with the highest prevalence of anxiety disorders, according to the World Health Organization and ranks 5^th regarding the prevalence of depression. Mood disorders, which include anxiety and depression, are often neglected in clinical practice,^, and their diagnosis in patients with heart failure (HF) is even more challenging, given the overlap of several symptoms, such as fatigue, weight loss and sleep disorders.^,

In this issue of the Archives, the cross-sectional study by Figueiredo et al. evaluated, in a population of 99 patients with HF and reduced ejection fraction, which clinical, sociodemographic and psychological variables most correlated with the quality of life assessed by the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire. The main factors associated with poorer quality of life were dyspnea advanced functional class (New York Heart Association III and IV), previous hospitalization and anxiety symptoms. Depression was not independently associated with reduced quality of life, but several other studies have found this association.^, The study also shows an alarming prevalence of anxiety symptoms in these patients, of 50%, when compared to 9.3% in the overall population.

[…]