Impact of left ventricular function on health-related quality of life in coronary artery disease patients

Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate the relation between health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and left ventricular systolic and diastolic function parameters in stable coronary artery disease (CAD) patients with mild and moderate heart failure.
Materials and methods: This study included 758 CAD patients. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and ratio of peak velocities of early (E) and late (A) diastolic mitral inflow, ratio E/A, deceleration time, isovolumic relaxation time were assessed. Patients completed the SF-36 questionnaire.
Results: There were no strong and significant associations between echocardiographic measures and HRQoL in NYHA I-II class patients. In NYHA III class in univariate linear regression analyses significant associations were found between LVEF and physical functioning (β = 0.230, P = 0.009) and role limitations due to physical problems (β = 0.230, P = 0.009) and these associations remain significant after adjustment for age, gender, hypertension, angina pectoris class, nitrate, ACE inhibitors and diuretics use. E/A ratio was significantly associated only with mental health domain (β = 0.188, P = 0.048), and this association remains significant after all adjustments.
Conclusions: In stable CAD patients with NYHA I-II functional class HRQoL was not strongly associated with left ventricular function; in NYHA III functional class patients' greater systolic function mainly was associated with better physical health and better diastolic function, with better mental health.