The relationship between serum albumin level and patients' quality of life and mortality in patients with chronic heart failure

serum albumin level and mortality in chronic heart failure

Abstract

Background: Heart failure is still a global health challenge that requires a deeper understanding of factors affecting mortality and quality of life. Considering that few studies have investigated the relationship between albumin serum level and the outcome of patients with chronic heart failure, especially their quality of life, we decided to conduct this study.

Methods: In this prospective study on hospitalized patients with chronic ischemic and non-ischemic heart failure, demographic information and laboratory findings, and ejection fraction (EF) were evaluated. EF less than 40% were included in the study as heart failure. Serum albumin level was measured. Patients completed the Minnesota Heart Failure Quality of Life Questionnaire (MLHFQ) in the same hospitalization. After discharge, the patients were followed up for 6 months.

Results: A total of 102 people were included in this study. 59.8% of the patients had a history of chronic heart failure. There was a weak but significant inverse relationship between serum albumin level and MLHFQ index (r=-0.263, p=0.018). Also, there was no significant difference between serum albumin level and MLHFQ index in dead and alive people (p=0.816 and p=0.12 respectively).

Conclusion: Our results show that lower serum albumin levels are weakly but significantly associated with reduced quality of life in heart failure patients, as indicated by the MLHFQ scores. However, no significant relationship was observed between serum albumin levels and mortality within the 6-month follow-up. These findings suggest that while hypoalbuminemia may impact patient quality of life, its role in short-term mortality is less clear.