1. Sociodemographic characteristics:
This study included 107 patients with heart failure in Khartoum state. Male and female participation in this study was almost equal. The mean age of participants was 54.6 years ± 16 SD, and the most common age group was 56-70 years (36.4%). Half of the patients (54.2%) were illiterate. Nearly two-thirds of the patients (66.4%) had one or more comorbid diseases, and the most common comorbid diseases were other cardiovascular system diseases (43.9%), followed by endocrine system problems (28%), while the least common comorbid diseases were nervous system diseases (2.8%). More details are shown in Table 1, Figure 1, and Figure 2.
Table 1
sociodemographic characteristics of patients with heart failure in Khartoum state, 2022. (N = 107)
Variable
|
Subgroups
|
Total N
|
%
|
Gender
|
Male
|
53
|
49.5
|
|
Female
|
54
|
50.5
|
Age groups
|
15–25 years
|
6
|
5.6
|
|
26–40 years
|
13
|
12.1
|
|
41–55 years
|
35
|
32.7
|
|
56–70
|
39
|
36.4
|
|
> 70 years
|
14
|
13.1
|
Educational level
|
Illiterate
|
58
|
54.2
|
|
Primary school
|
26
|
24.3
|
|
Secondary school
|
16
|
15.0
|
|
University and above
|
7
|
6.5
|
Presence of comorbid
|
Yes
|
71
|
66.4
|
Diseases
|
No
|
36
|
33.6
|
2. Clinical characteristics of heart failure:
The mean duration of diagnosis with heart failure at the time of the study was 5.6 years ± 7.3. While all patients in this study were taking heart failure medications, (80.4%) were doing it regularly, while only (19.6%) were doing it irregularly (Fig. 3). Patients rated their general health on a 6-level score, (11.2%) said that their health is excellent, (13.1%) rated it as very good, (44.9%) as good, (10.3%) as fair, and (20.6%) as poor (Fig. 4). Also, we asked patients to rate their health status compared to one year ago, (52.3%) said that it was much worse than one year ago, while (9.3%) said it was much better—figure 5.
3. Quality of life:
We assessed patients' quality of life with heart failure in 6 domains; details of each part are shown in Tables 2–7. The mean of each domain was calculated; the highest was the mean of emotional health, reflecting a better quality of life (62.6 ± 48.2). On the other hand, the lowest mean was the mean of the physical health domain (8.4 ± 27.2).
Table 2
Assessment of limitations of activities in patients with heart failure, Khartoum state, 2022 (N = 107).
Statement
|
Yes, limited a lot
|
Yes, limited a little
|
No, not limited at all
|
|
N%
|
N%
|
N%
|
1.Vigorous activities, such as running, lifting heavy objects, participating in strenuous sports
|
100
|
93.5
|
3
|
2.8
|
4
|
3.7
|
2.Moderate activities, such as moving a table,
pushing a vacuum cleaner, bowling, or playing golf
|
73
|
68.2
|
12
|
11.2
|
22
|
20.6
|
3.Lifting or carrying groceries
|
66
|
61.7
|
8
|
7.5
|
33
|
30.8
|
4.Climbing several flights of stairs
|
84
|
78.5
|
8
|
7.5
|
15
|
14
|
5.Climbing one flight of stairs
|
53
|
49.5
|
14
|
13.1
|
40
|
37.4
|
6.Bending, kneeling, or stooping
|
76
|
71
|
7
|
6.5
|
24
|
22.4
|
7.Walking more than a mile
|
101
|
94.5
|
1
|
.9
|
5
|
4.7
|
8.Walking several blocks
|
97
|
90.7
|
3
|
2.8
|
7
|
6.5
|
9.Walking one block
|
53
|
49.5
|
27
|
25.2
|
27
|
25.2
|
10.Bathing or dressing yourself
|
44
|
41.1
|
10
|
9.3
|
53
|
49.5
|
Table 3: assessment of pain in patients with heart failure, Khartoum state, 2022 (N = 107).
Statement
|
Answers
|
Total N
|
%
|
How much bodily pain have you had during the past 4 weeks?
|
None
|
45
|
42.1
|
|
Very mild
|
7
|
6.5
|
|
Mild
|
9
|
8.4
|
|
Moderate
|
9
|
8.4
|
|
Severe
|
5
|
4.7
|
Very severe
|
32
|
29.9
|
During the past 4 weeks, how much did pain
|
Not at all
|
52
|
48.6
|
interfere with your normal work (including
|
A little bit
|
8
|
7.5
|
both work outside the home and housework)?
|
Moderately
|
10
|
9.3
|
|
Quite a bit
|
4
|
3.7
|
Extremely
|
33
|
30.8
|
Table 4
assessment of physical health problems in patients with heart failure, Khartoum state, 2022 (N = 107).
During the past 4 weeks, had you have any of the following problems with your work or other regular daily activities as a result of your physical health?
|
Yes
|
|
No
|
N
|
%
|
N
|
%
|
A) Cut down the amount of time you spent on work or other activities
|
97
|
90.7
|
10
|
9.3
|
B) Accomplished less than you would like
|
98
|
91.6
|
9
|
8.4
|
C) Were limited in the kind of work or other activities
|
98
|
91.6
|
9
|
8.4
|
D) Had difficulty performing the work or other activities (for example, it took extra effort)
|
99
|
92.5
|
8
|
7.5
|
Table 5
assessment of emotional health problems in patients with heart failure, Khartoum state, 2022 (N = 107).
During the past 4 weeks, have you had any of the following problems with your work or other regular daily activities as a result any emotional problems (such as feeling depressed or anxious?
|
Yes
|
|
|
No
|
N
|
%
|
N
|
%
|
A) Cut down the amount of time you spent on work or other activities
|
39
|
36.4
|
68
|
63.6
|
B) Accomplished less than you would like
|
40
|
37.4
|
67
|
62.6
|
C) Didn’t do work or other activities as carefully as usual
|
41
|
38.3
|
66
|
61.7
|
Table 6: assessment of energy and emotions in patients with heart failure, Khartoum state, 2022. (N = 107).
During the last 4 weeks:
|
All of the Most of A good bit Some of A little bit None of time the time of the the time of the the time
time time
|
N
|
%
|
N
|
%
|
N
|
%
|
N
|
%
|
N
|
%
|
N
|
%
|
1. You feel full of pep?
|
6
|
5.6
|
11
|
10.
3
|
8
|
7.5
|
39
|
36.
4
|
15
|
14
|
28
|
26.2
|
2. Have you been a very nervous person?
|
7
|
6.5
|
4
|
3.7
|
2
|
1.9
|
35
|
32.
7
|
7
|
6.5
|
52
|
48.6
|
3. Have you felt so down in the dumps that nothing could cheer you up?
|
6
|
5.6
|
5
|
7.4
|
2
|
1.9
|
47
|
43.
9
|
8
|
7.5
|
39
|
36.4
|
4. Have you felt calm and peaceful?
|
26
|
24.3
|
9
|
8.4
|
3
|
2.8
|
50
|
46.
7
|
8
|
7.5
|
11
|
10.3
|
5. Did you have a lot of energy?
|
5
|
4.7
|
15
|
14
|
6
|
5.6
|
40
|
37.
4
|
14
|
13.1
|
27
|
25.2
|
6. Have you felt downhearted and blue?
|
8
|
7.5
|
6
|
5.6
|
5
|
4.7
|
38
|
35.
5
|
8
|
7.5
|
42
|
39.3
|
7. Did you feel worn out?
|
31
|
29
|
18
|
16.
8
|
8
|
7.5
|
38
|
35.
5
|
6
|
5.6
|
6
|
5.6
|
8. Have you been a happy person?
|
41
|
38.3
|
13
|
12.
1
|
4
|
3.7
|
34
|
31.
8
|
8
|
7.5
|
7
|
6.5
|
9. Did you feel tired?
|
30
|
28
|
18
|
16.
8
|
7
|
6.5
|
39
|
36.
4
|
6
|
5.6
|
7
|
6.5
|
Table 7
assessment of social activities in patients with heart failure, Khartoum state, 2022, (N = 107).
Statement
|
Answers
|
N
|
%
|
During the past 4 weeks, how much of the time
|
All of the time
|
57
|
53.3
|
has your physical health or emotional problems
interfered with your social activities (like
|
Most of the time
|
12
|
11.2
|
visiting with friends, relatives, etc.)?
|
Some of the time
|
14
|
13.1
|
|
A little bit of the time
|
2
|
1.9
|
|
None of the time
|
22
|
20.6
|
Table 8: Assessment of patient’s quality of life in (limitations of activity, pain, and physical health) domains according to their sociodemographic characteristics (N ± 107).
Domain
|
Mean
|
SD
|
Minimum
|
Maximum
|
Limitations of activity
|
25.84
|
24.5
|
0
|
100
|
Pain
|
58.2
|
43.7
|
0
|
100
|
Physical
|
8.4
|
27.2
|
0
|
100
|
Energy and emotions
|
53.5
|
20
|
4.44
|
100
|
Emotional health problem
|
62.6
|
48.2
|
0
|
100
|
Social activities
|
31.3
|
40
|
0
|
100
|
Table 9: Assessment of patients’ quality of life in (limitations of activity, pain, and physical health) domains according to their sociodemographic characteristics (N ± 107).
4. Factors affecting quality of life:
The mean quality of life score varied according to patients' essential characteristics. However, the only statistically significant difference was the difference in limitations of the activity domain based on patients' educational level (P = .04). Also, the social activities domain differed significantly according to patients' age group (P = .021). Table 9, 10.
Table 10
Assessment of patients' quality of life in (energy, emotional health, and social activities) domains according to their sociodemographic characteristics (N ± 107)
![](https://myfiles.space/user_files/122228_c8a1650c59388082/122228_custom_files/img1700174003.png)