Relationships Among Symptoms, Self-Care, and Quality of Life in Individuals With Multimorbidity

Q: What gap in knowledge does the study address?

It examines relationships among symptoms, self-care, and quality of life in individuals with multimorbidity, which had been underexplored.

Q: How were symptoms, quality of life, and self-care measured?

Symptoms were assessed with the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale, quality of life with the EuroQoL-5D-5L, and self-care with the Self-care of Heart Failure Index.

Q: Which factors remained significantly associated with quality of life after adjustment?

After controlling for age, gender, social support, symptoms, and self-care domains, pain, shortness of breath, and well-being stayed significant (negative associations), while self-care maintenance and self-care monitoring also remained significant.

Sep 29, 2026

Upload by Jasmine

Multimorbidity is a major concern for aging adults with heart failure, driving higher hospitalization, mortality, and healthcare costs, yet links among symptoms, self-care, and quality of life remain insufficiently studied. Baseline cohort survey data (2022–2023) from a university-affiliated hospital were analyzed, including 353 participants aged ≥50 with heart failure and at least one additional chronic condition. Edmonton Symptom Assessment, EuroQoL-5D-5L, and a heart-failure self-care index were used; regression showed symptom-related factors negatively associated with QoL, while self-care maintenance demonstrated a positive association. These results support further research to enable tailored multimorbidity management.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages2

Reading Time5 min

AccessFree to download

Study background and rationale

Participants and measures

Statistical analysis and results

Unadjusted associations

Adjusted model findings

Conclusions and implications

Innovation in Aging, 2025, Vol. 9, No. S2 953 Abstract citation ID: igaf122.3220 RELATIONSHIPS AMONG SYMPTOMS, SELF-CARE, AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN INDIVIDUALS WITH MULTIMORBIDITY Soo Hyun Kim1, Arum Lim2, Chitchanok Benjasirisan1, Cheryl Himmelfarb1, Patricia Davidson3, Rebecca Wright1, and Binu Koirala1, 1. Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States, 2. Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing, Baltimore, Maryland, United States, 3. University of New South Wales Sydney, Kensington, New South Wales, Australia Multimorbidity is a major concern for aging individuals with heart failure (HF), increasing hospitalization, mortality, and healthcare costs. However, relationships among symptoms, self-care, and quality of life (QoL) remain underexplored. This study analyzed baseline survey data from a cohort study (2022–2023) at a university-affiliated hospital. Participants were aged ≥50 years with HF and at least one additional chronic condition. Socio-demographic and clinical data were collected; symptoms were assessed using the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale, QoL via the EuroQoL-5D-5L, and self-care using the Self-care of Heart Failure Index. A cross-sectional regression analysis was performed on a sample of 353 participants, with a mean (±SD) age of 70 (±9.5) years. Among them, 277 (78.5%) identified themselves as their primary caregiver. In the unadjusted analysis, all nine symptoms, self-care maintenance, and self-care confidence were significantly associated with QoL. In the adjusted model, after controlling for age, gender, social support and including all symptoms and self-care domains, pain (β = -0.035, p<.001), shortness of breath (β = -0.011, p<.05), well-being (β = -0.018, p <.01), self-care maintenance (β = 0.004, p<.001), and self-care monitoring (β = -0.001, p<.05) remained significant for QoL. These findings highlight the negative 954 Innovation in Aging, 2025, Vol. 9, No. S2 association of symptoms on QoL in those with multimorbidity, while self-care maintenance has positive association with QoL. As multimorbidity becomes increasingly prevalent with aging, further research is needed to better understand the complex relationships among symptoms, self-care, and QoL to inform the development and implementation of effective, tailored multimorbidity management strategies.

FAQs

What gap in knowledge does the study address?

It examines relationships among symptoms, self-care, and quality of life in individuals with multimorbidity, which had been underexplored.

How were symptoms, quality of life, and self-care measured?

Symptoms were assessed with the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale, quality of life with the EuroQoL-5D-5L, and self-care with the Self-care of Heart Failure Index.

Which factors remained significantly associated with quality of life after adjustment?

After controlling for age, gender, social support, symptoms, and self-care domains, pain, shortness of breath, and well-being stayed significant (negative associations), while self-care maintenance and self-care monitoring also remained significant.

Sep 29, 2026

Upload by Jasmine