Health-related quality of life and clinical outcomes of adults with heart failure in Nigeria: A review of current literature

Abstract

Background: Heart failure (HF) is a major public health problem due to its high prevalence, nature of morbidity and consequent socio-economic burden on individuals and societies. The established aims of the management are the prevention of disease progression and improving health-related quality of life (HRQoL). HF is a chronic illness known to have a negative impact on HRQoL with consequent adverse clinical outcomes. While there has been progress in reducing HF progression globally, not much has been achieved in improving RQoL, particularly in Nigeria and other low-resource countries.
Methods: The available literature on the topic from PubMed, Medline, Google Scholar and other relevant internet sites were accessed, reviewed and inferences made.
Conclusion: Heart failure has a significant negative impact on HRQoL with consequent poor clinical outcomes. Periodic assessment of HRQoL, HRQoL goal setting and adherence to guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) are recommended as standard care for individuals with HF in Nigeria and across the world