Unveiling the link: social determinants of health, quality of life, and burden of treatment in heart failure patients

Our findings highlight the interplay of SDoH, QoL and BoT in driving health disparities in heart failure patients. The positive correlation between SDoH and BoT demonstrates the impact that SDoH has on the treatment experiences of HF patients and their ability to manage their illness. Difficulty with healthcare expenses, understanding medical information, keeping track of medical appointments, self-care responsibilities affecting work, family and daily activities, and increased physical and mental fatigue due to self-care were the predominant domains affecting our study population. These findings signal the need for healthcare systems to identify at-risk individuals and implement individualized strategies to reduce the burden that treatment places on patients. Minimally Disruptive Medicine, which emphasizes understanding the patient's perspectives and tailoring treatment to the patient's daily life, may be an important tool in providing equitable care to these at-risk populations.