Psychological factors in patients with right heart failure associated with COPD

Introduction: COPD has several comorbidities, including right heart failure (RHF), decreasing the functional capacity of patients due to their common symptomatology. This condition can be related to psychological comorbidities such as anger, anxiety and depression. Aim: To investigate the levels of anger, anxiety, depression and quality of life in patients with COPD+RHF, depending on their functional capacity. Method: A descriptive cross-sectional study was recorded including 75 COPD+RHF patients, who were classified according to NYHA in I (N = 10), II (N = 33), III (N =29) and IV (N = 3). We used Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory (STAXI-2) and SF-12 to assess health-related quality of life. An analysis of variance was performed using SPSS v25. Results: Characteristics by group were I: 55.4 ± 16.06 years, 55.6% women; II: 66.21 ± 11.77 years, 54.5% men; III: 69.26 ± 13.01 years, 64.5% women; IV: 83.00 ± 5.29 years, 75% women. Statistically significant differences (p <0.05) between the groups (I / II / III / IV) in the means of depression (4.60±3.62 / 4.48±3.30 / 8: 34±3.93 / 7.00±3.00), internal anger-expression (11.00±4.92 / 11.85±4.33 / 14.76±4.08 / 14.33±6.11) and quality of life (71.59±20.01 / 59.21±23.37 / 38.79±19.69 / 26.67). Conclusions: Patients with lower functional capacity have greater depressive symptomatology, internalization of anger and lower quality of life, factors that in turn can affect their prognosis. Evaluating these psychological aspects is fundamental for the treatment, since they can be factors related to future exacerbations and/or complications, worse prognosis and lower quality of life of the patient.