Factors Associated With Health‐Related Quality of Life 2 Years After Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation: Insights From INTERMACS

BACKGROUND: Factors related to health‐related quality of life (HRQOL) 2 years after left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation are unknown. We sought to determine whether preimplant intended goal of LVAD therapy (heart transplant candidate [short‐term group], uncertain heart transplant candidate [uncertain group], and heart transplant ineligible [long‐term group]) and other variables were related to HRQOL 2 years after LVAD implantation. METHODS AND RESULTS: Our LVAD sample (n=1620) was from INTERMACS (Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support). Using the EuroQol‐5 Dimension Questionnaire (EQ‐5D‐3L), a generic HRQOL measure, and the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ‐12), a heart failure–specific HRQOL measure, multivariable linear regression modeling was conducted with the EQ‐5D‐3L Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score and KCCQ‐12 overall summary score (OSS) as separate dependent variables. Two years after LVAD implant, the short‐term group had a significantly higher mean VAS score versus the uncertain and long‐term groups (short‐term: 75.18 [SD, 20.62]; uncertain: 72.27 [SD, 20.33]; long‐term: 70.87 [SD, 22.09], P=0.01); differences were not clinically meaningful. Two‐year mean scores did not differ by group for the KCCQ‐12 OSS (short‐term, 67.85 [SD, 20.61]; uncertain, 67.79 [SD, 19.31]; long‐term, 67.08 [SD, 21.49], P=0.80). Factors associated with a worse VAS score 2 years postoperatively (n=1205) included not working; not having a short‐term LVAD; and postoperative neurological dysfunction, greater health‐related stress, coping poorly, less VAD self‐care confidence, and less satisfaction with VAD surgery, explaining 28% of variance (P<0.001). Factors associated with a worse KCCQ‐12 OSS 2 years postoperatively (n=1250) included not working; history of high body mass index and diabetes mellitus; and postoperative renal dysfunction, greater health‐related stress, coping poorly, less VAD self‐care confidence, less satisfaction with VAD surgery, and regret regarding VAD implantation, accounting for 36% of variance (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Factors related to HRQOL 2 years after LVAD implantation include demographic, clinical, and psychological variables.