OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to evaluate determinants of poor quality of life (QoL) and high health care resource consumption in heart failure patients in Portugal.

METHODS: A cross-sectional and multicenter study (PRiMe study) was conducted in Portuguese community pharmacies and its data used for this analysis. Data was collected through a structured questionnaire applied to adult patients or caregivers with a sacubitril/valsartan prescription. Functional status was assessed through a previously developed self-assessed NYHA. Logistic regressions were run to assess variables associated with poor QoL (EQ-5D-3L index score<0.6; lower than the mean utility score for the elderly Portuguese population) and high health care resources consumption (at least one emergency room [ER] visit or hospitalization due to a cardiovascular event in the last 12 months). Both models included relevant sociodemographic and clinical variables. Results are reported as adjusted odds ratios (OR).

RESULTS: A total of 262 patients were considered. These patients had a mean EQ-5D-3L index score of 0.63 and 51.2% at least one ER visit or hospitalization in the last 12 months. Older patients (≥75years versus <65years) were associated with approximately three times higher chance of poor QoL (OR=3.2; p<0.05). Similarly, being a women (OR=3.6; p<0.05), obese (BMI>30 versus BMI≤25, OR=4.3; p<0.05) and having sleep disorders (OR=2.7; p<0.05) were also associated with higher likelihood of reduced QoL. The odds of a poor QoL rises as the NYHA class also rise (NYHA II, OR=5.8; NYHA III, OR=11.5; NYHA IV, OR=27.4; p<0.05). The model for health care resources consumption found that being in NYHA IV class was associated with high consumption (OR=3.5; p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that having ≥75years, being a woman, obese, having sleep disorders, and worse functional status are associated with poor QoL. Likewise, worse functional status seems to be associated with higher health care resources consumption.