Fatigue and the Quality of Life among Patients with Heart Failure

Abstract

Fatigue is an important symptom caused by heart failure that can be as a complaint debilitating and effect
negatively on patients‟ quality of life and often goes unnoticed by the health care team. Objectives: the
current study is conducted to assess patients for fatigue after heart failure, assess patients' quality of life
(physical and level of independence domains) after heart failure, and determine the correlation between
fatigue and the quality of life. Methods: This quantitative correlational study was performed on 65
patients with heart failure who were selected purposively. The study was conducted in Al-Najaf Center for
Cardiac Surgery and Trans Catheter Therapy. The study begins from13/ 8/ 2020 to 15/ 6/ 2021. Data
collection tools were Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) and Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire
(MLHFQ). Data were analyzed using SPSS software, descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: The
study results indicate that 87.7 % of patients suffered from severe fatigue. And 72.3% of patients live with
a low quality of life. Additionally, the study results indicate that the there is a negative correlation between
the patients‟ fatigue levels and their quality of life. Conclusion: the study concludes that heart failure
affects patients‟ quality of life negatively, and it is responsible for severe level fatigue. Recommendation:
The study recommended activate nursing rehabilitation in different health organizations, nurses and other
members of the rehabilitation team should encourage to implement the rehabilitation program to improve
patients‟ quality of life