The Impact of Heart Disease on Quality of Life Flashcards
What are the determinants of quality of life in heart disease?
- physical function
- mental health
- social function
- occupational function
- perceived health
What are the WHO’s definition of quality of life?
an individuals perceptions of their position in life in the context of the culture and value systems in which they live and in relation to their goals, expectations, standards and concerns
What are NICE’s definition of quality of life?
a combination of a person’s physical, mental and social wellbeing; not merely the absence of disease
Why would you measure a patient’s quality of life?
- improve survival rates
- discover if there is a persistence of symptoms
- cost-effectiveness
- benefits of interventions
What are the different measure types of quality of life?
- unidimensional
- multidimensional (generic/disease-specific)
Describe physical functioning as a positive impact on QOL
If:
- minimal/no physical symptoms
- individual is able to carry out usual physical activities
- healthy sexual relationships
Describe how poor psychological functioning impacts the patient and in turn their QOL
- impacts disease process/treatment concordance/ability to retain and understand information
- can result in prolonged stress in need of coping strategies/resilience
- predictor for hospitalisation
- can impede social support and personal relationships
What are the risk factors associated with MI/CABG?
- early mortality
- low return to work
- difficulty with lifestyle changes
- difficulty with concordance with medical care
- increased use of health services
- PTSD
- readmission to hospital
- mental health problems
What can cause a cardiac patient to become anxious?
- CAD diagnosis
- fear of further event
- being in hospital/treatment
- being away from family/familiar surroundings
- return to activity
What are the key symptoms of anxiety?
- excessive worrying
- unable to control the worrying
What are the associated symptoms of anxiety?
- restlessness
- easily fatigued
- difficulty concentrating
- irritability
- muscle tension
- disturbed sleep
Describe the vicious cycle of anxiety as a post-cardiac event
- worrying can produce adrenaline
- fight or flight response but no danger
- physical: dizziness, dry mouth, SOB, heart-racing, butterflies
- cognitive: racing thoughts, preoccupation with and catastrophizing bodily sensations
What are some examples of good social functioning?
- good family/friend support and the ability to maintain relationships
- meaningful role within society
- being able to take part in social activities
What is significant of good occupational functioning?
- ability to return to work
- performing well at work
- financial award associated with work and stability
- positions/roles outside of work
What influences a patient’s perceived health status?
- their experience as a child, family relationships, occupational status, social support, and wider community
- previous experience with health services
- mental health and depression
- understanding of illness
- denial
