Health-Related Quality of Life among Patients with Ventricular Assist Devices in Saudi Arabia

Background: End-stage heart failure patients awaiting heart transplant often require Ventricular Assisted Devices (VAD) to support systemic and pulmonary circulation and to improve ventricular function, symptoms, and Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL). This study evaluates the health-related quality of life in patients with VAD and was conducted at the Cardio Ventricular Assisted Devices Clinic at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh. Methods: This retrospective cohort study design included all eligible VAD patients who were still attending the cardio ventricular assisted devices clinic at KFSHRC, Riyadh. Each study participant was assigned a detailed questionnaire to assess and evaluate HRQoL outcomes measured in physical limitations, emotional stress, sexual activity, and social function from the date of device insertion to the time of data collection. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Studies (SPSS 22; IBM Corp., New York, NY, USA). Results: Between February 2016 until June 2020, 26 patients were eligible for the study. The patients' support scores were moderate to high, indicating a positive effect on their HRQoL, with a mean score of 57.69 in emotional activity, a mean score of 34.07 in physical activity, and a mean score of 83.17 in social activity. The study's results show that the level of HRQoL varies among patients with VADs. Conclusion: Participating patients with VAD reported excellent health-related quality of life in all domains, with moderate to high support scores indicating a positive effect on their HRQoL. There is currently a lack of study on HRQoL in patients with VADs in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, this study may provide a baseline understanding of current challenges in the care of heart failure patients with VAD awaiting a heart transplant.