COMPARISON BETWEEN QUALITY OF LIFE IN PATIENTS WITH HEART FAILURE IN DIFFERENT FUNCTIONAL CLASSES AND AFTER CARDIAC TRANSPLANTATION

• Grant number: 24/16323-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: November 01, 2024
• End date: October 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Nursing - Medical-Surgical Nursing
• Principal Investigator: Rafaela Batista dos Santos Pedrosa
• Grantee: Maria Luísa de Souza
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Enfermagem. Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Introduction: Heart failure (HF) can be classified by structural and functional aspects. The New York Heart Association (NYHA) proposed that the functional classification is made according to the level of patient impairment in response to physical exertion. The treatment of HF is multifaceted and heart transplantation (HT) is considered the gold standard for advanced and refractory cases. HT, in addition to ensuring survival, aims to ensure an improvement in Quality of Life (QoL). However, once HT has been performed, new situations emerge in the patient's daily life to maintain well-being and prevent complications, directly impacting lifestyle. Objective: To compare the QoL of patients with HF in their different functional classes with those who have already undergone HT. Methods: This quantitative, cross-sectional, and analytical study was conducted in the cardiology outpatient clinic of a large public hospital in the interior of the state of São Paulo. Patients diagnosed with HF in different functional classes (NYHA I, II, III, IV) and heart transplant recipients will be enrolled in this study. Data will be collected through semi-structured interviews and, to assess QoL, two questionnaires will be used: "World Health Organization Quality of Life - Bref (WHOQOL-bref)" and "MacNew Heart Disease Health-related Quality of Life Questionnaire (MacNew)". A descriptive analysis and comparison tests will be performed according to the data distribution. The significance level will be set at p<0.05. Implication for practice: This study is expected to contribute to the stratification of QoL of patients with HF in different functional classes and after HT, so that rehabilitation and support strategies can be implemented, contributing to optimizing well-being and patient-centered care.