Quality of Life Among Patients with Heart Failure in Tertiary Care Hospitals of Peshawar

Abstract

Background: Heart failure is a progressive clinical syndrome associated with substantial morbidity, mortality, and impaired health-related quality of life, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where healthcare resources are limited. In Pakistan, the burden of heart failure continues to rise, yet few studies have systematically examined the multidimensional impact of the disease on patients’ perceived quality of life. Understanding these outcomes is critical for designing patient-centered care models that extend beyond pharmacological management. Objective: The study aimed to assess the quality of life of patients with heart failure in a tertiary care hospital in Peshawar and to explore the influence of sociodemographic characteristics such as age, sex, education, and marital status. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Peshawar Institute of Cardiology over two months, enrolling 253 adult patients with echocardiography-confirmed heart failure. Participants completed the WHOQOL-BREF through either self-administration or structured interviews. Data were analyzed using SPSS v22, applying descriptive statistics and chi-square tests to evaluate associations between demographic variables and quality of life outcomes. Ethical approval and informed consent were obtained prior to participation. Results: Overall, 59.7% of participants reported poor quality of life. Poor outcomes were more frequent among those with lower educational attainment (73.0% in primary-educated vs 42.9% in college-educated), middle-aged individuals (59.8% in 36–55 years), and married participants (59.7%). None of these associations reached statistical significance (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Quality of life among patients with heart failure in Peshawar was suboptimal, reflecting the multidimensional burden of the disease. Although trends suggested sociodemographic disparities, further multicenter and longitudinal studies are needed. Clinical strategies should integrate education, psychosocial support, and multidisciplinary care to improve outcomes.