Correlação entre capacidade funcional e percepção de qualidade de vida em pacientes valvopatas no pré operatório de troca ou reparo valvar

Abstract

Introduction: Valvular heart disease progresses slowly, but when compensatory mechanisms become insufficient, the patient often becomes symptomatic, with signs and symptoms of heart failure. Thus, valvular disease significantly affects the patient's health, particularly in domains such as cardiac function, functional capacity, and quality of life, in addition to psychological and social limitations. General objective: To correlate functional capacity with the perception of quality of life in valvular heart disease patients preoperatively for valve replacement or repair. Methodology: Cross-sectional observational study with a sample of 15 valvular heart disease patients evaluated preoperatively for valve replacement or repair. The 5-repetition Sit-to-Stand Test (5STS) and the Medical Research Council (MRC) score were used to assess functional capacity. The perception of quality of life was assessed using the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ). Spearman's correlation coefficient was used to verify the correlation between TSL5x, MRC, total MLHFQ, and its dimensions. Results: 60% of the sample was composed of New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class II, with a mean overall age of 55.86 (±10.62) years, 53% being female. 87% had preserved Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction (LVEF). The mean total MLHFQ score was 36.6 (±16.40). The mean total MRC score was 57.5 (±2.17), while the median TSL5x score was 20.56 (IQR = 11.68 - 21.97). A moderate and significant positive correlation was observed between the time to completion of the 5x TSL and the total score of the MLHFQ (r = 0.56; p = 0.028) and its emotional dimension (r = 0.54; p = 0.039). The correlation between the 5x TSL and the physical dimension was moderately positive, but not significant (r = 0.43; p = 0.113). Conclusion: It is concluded that valvular heart disease patients in the preoperative period of valve replacement or repair present a moderate positive correlation between functional capacity and quality of life, especially in the emotional domain of the MLHFQ. Peripheral muscle strength remained preserved, indicating that the reduction in functional capacity involves factors other than strength. These findings reinforce the importance of assessing functional capacity and perceived quality of life in patients in the preoperative period of valve replacement or repair to guide more comprehensive and patient-centered care.