Medication adherence and health-related quality of life among patients with heart failure: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND

Heart failure (HF) continues to be a significant public health concern. Adherence to guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) is essential for improving clinical outcomes and quality of life (QoL) in these patients.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to evaluate how well patients with chronic HF adhere to GDMT and to assess their health-related QoL.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted using data collected between March and May 2025. Eligible participants were adult outpatients with a confirmed diagnosis of HF who were able to complete the study questionnaires. Medication adherence was assessed using the 8-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8), while health-related QoL was evaluated with the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05.

RESULTS

Among 300 HF patients (64.7% male; median age of 63), sixty-nine percent had reduced ejection fraction (median EF 30%), with 62.4% classified as NYHA III or IV. Medication adherence was low in 25%, moderate in 44.6%, and high in 30.3%. Patients with more severe HF symptoms (higher NYHA class) reported significantly lower QoL, while higher adherence correlated significantly with better QoL. Older patients had a lower risk of low adherence, while intracardiac devices were linked to a higher risk.

CONCLUSION

Despite GDMT's critical role in HF management, a notable proportion of patients demonstrated low adherence, which was associated with diminished QoL. Special attention and targeted interventions for high-risk groups, particularly patients with intracardiac devices, are imperative for enhancing outcomes.