[Quality of life, depression and cognitive functions 3. The main characteristics of the QDF study population]

Abstract

Aim: This contribution describes the patients included for the QDF (Quality of life, Depression and Cognitive functions) study and explores the distribution and time trends of scores of the three dimensions.

Results: The large majority of patients are males (78.3%), and mean age is 67.2 +/- 10.7 years (9.2% > 80 years). Patients in NYHA class III-IV experience more depression and a worse QoL as compared to the less severly clinically affected counterparts in NYHA class. Although QoL and depression are influenced by the same variables, not all patients with bad QoL are depressed and viceversa. Mean scores of cognitive functioning are not influenced by the same variables that influence QoL and depression.

Conclusions: The regular measurement of QoL, depression and cognitive function is recommended by some authors. It seems to be confirmed that the three dimensions need to be explored to disentangle the specific informative value that each of them could add to clinical measures.