Abstract

This chapter lends some clarity to the discussion of quality of life in heart failure (HF). To do so, it explores definitions of quality of life, outlines the literature on the effect of HF on quality of life, and ends by summarizing what is known about the effect of interventions on quality of life in persons with HF. The common dimensions of quality of life in all the models reviewed are physical, emotional, and social function. The chapter further discusses the impact of HF on each of these dimensions. The physical dimension includes biological issues or illness characteristics, symptoms, and functional status. The emotional dimension includes the psychological response to HF. Social functioning includes sociodemographic factors, including cultural and environmental aspects. Some evidence suggests that optimal medical therapy and perhaps disease management can improve quality of life, but many of the studies are limited by a failure to define the construct and measure it in its complexity.