Association of PROMIS Profile-29 based quality of life with heart failure in asymptomatic patients (HERZCHECK)

Heart failure is often diagnosed only when symptoms become acute, but early detection could help prevent disease progression. As patient-reported quality of life is strongly associated with heart failure outcomes, it may also serve as an additional correlate with the disease before symptoms occur. This cross-sectional study investigates the associations of quality of life and asymptomatic heart failure and was conducted as an exploratory, hypothesis-generating analysis. It was based on data of 4,509 asymptomatic patients aged 40 to 69 years with at least one cardiovascular risk factor and without known heart failure at the time of quality of life assessment, whose heart failure status was determined during the baseline evaluation. The quality of life of patients with and without asymptomatic heart failure was compared, using logistic regression. Lower Physical Function was associated with higher odds of asymptomatic heart failure in females generally. Among females with hypercholesterolemia, lower physical function and lower pain interference were associated with asymptomatic heart failure, while in females who smoke, lower physical function was associated with asymptomatic heart failure. In males generally, lower Pain Interference and higher Pain Intensity were associated with higher odds of pre-HF, with additional associations of lower Pain Interference in males with diabetes, higher Depression and higher Pain Intensity in males with hypercholesterolemia, and lower Pain Interference and higher Pain Intensity in males who smoke. This study highlights the association between patient-reported physical health domains and asymptomatic heart failure. The findings provide hypothesis-generating insights into the relationship between quality of life and asymptomatic heart failure and highlight the need for longitudinal research.