Frequency of Comorbidities and Quality of Life in Patients with Coronary Heart Disease Visiting Tertiary Care Hospitals in Islamabad

Abstract

CHD is a significant public health burden in Pakistan, leading substantially to morbidity, mortality, and decreased quality of life among adult patients seeking care at tertiary hospitals in Islamabad Rawalpindi. Patients diagnosed with CHD commonly have several comorbidities coexisting that increase symptom load, render management difficult, and markedly deteriorate their QoL. Knowledge of the comorbidity profile and its impact on the overall health status of patients is important for optimizing care planning, and resource allocation. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the comorbidity conditions in patients with CHD and their HRQoL. We used a descriptive cross sectional design and data collection was done through purposive sampling from tertiary care hospitals in Islamabad. A structured questionnaire sought information of general demographics, comorbidities, functional status, medication usage records and health utilization history and QoL. HRQoLwere assessed with the validated EQ- (EuroQol-) Dimensions instrument, measuring five distinct and independent factors of HRQoL: mobility; self-care; usual activities performance limitation due to health problem; pain discomfort; anxiety depression. Ethical issues such as informed consent, voluntary participation, anonymity and right of confidentiality were fully observed throughout the research. SPSS was used for data entering and analysis. Results The prevalence of multimorbidity was high, and hypertension (100%), dyslipidemia (100%), GIT disorders (49.1%) and osteoarthritis (31.2%) were the most common comorbidities identified in this study. Over 70% of the respondents had two or more comorbidities and 67.7% reported poor QoL according to EQ-5D classification. Also, 52.1% had two or more healthcare encounters int he past three months, indicating substantial healthcare utilization. The findings demonstrate a significant burden of illness, diminished functioning and unmet service needs in this group. The significant multimorbidity and impaired QOL of CHD patients in Islamabad Rawalpindi evident in this study. These findings highlight the need for enhanced chronic disease management, better patient surveillance and co-ordinated patient-centric care pathways embedded within tertiary cardiac services