Monitoring of quality of life in congestive heart failure populations.

The health care system has traditionally focused on treating disease at the point of failure, such as life-saving surgery or intensive medical therapy. As demographics shift more to an aging population, management of health-related quality of life and life-restricting disease becomes more necessary. Prominent among such diseases is congestive heart failure, which must be addressed as a major chronic health condition with its consequent effect on quality of life. This paper examines the methods of monitoring the quality of life in congestive heart failure. Particular attention is paid to congestive heart failure-related questionnaires to derive lifestyle information directly from patients. Comparison is made with general quality of life instruments. Most commonly, these questionnaires are applied to small populations in limited situations. New technology, such as the Internet, has greatly expanded the breadth and depth of health monitors by tracking status directly in patients' homes. This promises new levels of population management for heart disease. (c)2001 by CHF, Inc.