The associations of health status and functional status with psychological distress in patients with heart failure

Heart failure (HF) is a condition characterized by the heart's inability to supply a suitable volume of blood required for the metabolic needs of the body. Psychological distress, including depression and anxiety, is highly prevalent in HF and is associated with enhanced risks of mortality and rehospitalization, the severity of physical symptoms, and the patients' quality of life. Although psychological factors, including health status perception, are considered better predictors of psychological distress in people with HF than functional status variables, literature on the topic is lacking. The purpose of this study was to investigate any possible relationships between functional status, health status, and psychological distress in HF. A total of 123 non-hospitalized outpatients diagnosed with chronic HF were included in the study. The New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification was used to assess functional status, while health status was measured using the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ). Psychological distress was evaluated using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Statistical analysis revealed significant correlations between psychological distress and health status, as measured by the KCCQ Total Symptom Score (F1,113 = 7.841; p = .006; η2p = 0.065), Overall Summary Score (F1,113 = 10.602; p = .001; η2p = 0.086), Quality of Life (F1,112 = 34.542; p < .001; η2p = 0.236) and Symptom Burden (F1,112 = 4.070; p = .046; η2p = 0.035) subscales. However, functional status did not show a significant association with psychological distress (F3,113 = 1.449; p = .232; η2p = 0.037). The results of this study highlight the importance of considering health status and psychological distress in the management of HF patients to improve their overall well-being and quality of life. Further research and interventions targeting patient-reported health status are thus required.