Assessment of Life Style of Patients with Heart Failure

Abstract

Background: Heart failure (HF) is one of the most common causes of death and morbidity worldwide. Heart failure is difficult to treat because it has multiple causes and influenced by a wide range of patient genetic, lifestyle factors and co- morbidities. So, HF manifests, progresses, and responds to treatment differently in each individual. Aim: To assess the lifestyle of patients with heart failure. Settings: The study was conducted at the cardiac outpatient clinic at Makkah Hospital. Subjects: A convenience sample of 200, male and female patients diagnosed with heart failure for receiving treatment and follow up. Tools: two tools were used. Tool one: “Bio-socio-demographic and clinical data of patients with heart failure structured interview schedule". Tool two: “Life style of patient with heart failure structured interview schedule". Results: The study showed that there was positive statistically significant relation between age and overall life style of patients with heart failure were p (0.009). There was positive statistically significant relation between marital status and overall life style of patients with heart failure were p (˂0.001). However, there was negative statistically significant relation between monthly income (from patients’ point of view) and overall life style of patients with heart failure, who had unhealthy lifestyle were p (0.005). Conclusion: It found that,48% of the studied subjects with heart failure were unhealthy life style. Recommendations: Educational program should be developed and implemented for patients and their families relate to healthy life style modifications such as smoking cessation, alcohol consumption, dietary habits, drugs intake, adequate rest and physical activity, proper ways to coping with stress, elimination patterns, modifying of sexual activity and conducting follow up as scheduled by physician.