Cardiology Research Institute, branch of the Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution “Tomsk National Research Medical Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences”

Highlights

In the current epidemiological situation, special attention should be paid to patients suffering from cardiovascular diseases, as they are more susceptible to the severe course of the new coronavirus infection. The study of aspects of treatment adherence and quality of life of cardiac patients plays an important role in providing these patients with qualified care.

Aim. Study the quality of life and adherence to treatment of patients who applied for elective cardiac care during the pandemic of a new coronavirus infection.

Methods. The study included 310 patients who applied to the cardiological dispensary in March 2021 (n = 123) and in the same period in 2017 (n = 187). To analyze adherence to treatment, the Morisky-Green compliance scale, a modified questionnaire to determine the factors influencing adherence, and the international questionnaire EuroQol EQ5D5L were used. Statistical processing was performed using the STATISTICA 10.0 program.

Results. In 2021, the incidence of diagnosed CHF among patients included in the study was three times higher than in 2017 and amounted to 67.2% (p < 0.001). The level of quality of life on the EQ5D5L scale, as well as self-assessment of the health of patients on the VAS scale, were higher in the 2021 cohort of patients (p < 0.05). Approximately half of the patients surveyed do not comply with medical prescriptions, which is in line with the results of 2017. Forgetfulness remains the main reason for non-compliance with medical recommendations.

Conclusion. During the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a threefold increase in the proportion of patients suffering from CHF among the studied cohort of patients. At the same time, the level of quality of life and self-esteem of health is higher during the COVID-19 pandemic. Adherence to treatment of patients during the studied period remains low. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the financial aspect has an important impact on therapy adherence. A negative correlation was established between the presence of psychoemotional disorders and the degree of adherence to treatment. This actualizes the need to identify patients with symptoms of anxiety/depression among cardiac patients and provide them with specialized psychological assistance.

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