ABSTRACT
Background: Despite evidence that effective family support improves health behaviour and outcomes, the nature of the correlation between congestive heart failure [CHF] outcome and caregiver contribution has not been well studied.
Aim: This single centre pilot study aimed to determine epidemiological correlations between education level and hospital readmission and mortality rates of CHF patients in a nonwestern country population.
Methods: The study was performed in King Abdullah Medical City, Makkah, Saudi Arabia from February 2015 to February 2016, and included 167 consecutive patients enrolled in a CHF management registry. Data on the education levels of patients and their caregivers were collected, and patient outcomes in high education level [HEL] and low education level [LEL] groups were compared.
Results: Of 167 patients, 101 completed 12 months of follow-up. The mean age was 58 [13.4] years and 80% were men; 87% were Saudi nationals. The HEL group comprised 42 [42%] patients. There were no significant differences in the mortality [3 vs 2%] or readmission rate [18 vs 19%] between the LEL and HEL patients, and 29.6% of LEL patients had caregivers with an LEL.
Conclusion: The education levels of CHF patients and caregivers were not correlated with readmission or mortality rates