A literature review of coping strategies and health-related quality of life among patients with heart failure.

This article focuses on identifying factors that influence coping strategies used by patients with heart failure (HF) and how these strategies relate to health-related quality of life (HRQoL). A scoping review of 35 studies, including randomized controlled trials and observational research, found that problem-focused coping (e.g., problem-solving, seeking social support) and active emotion-focused coping (e.g., acceptance, spiritual practices) are generally associated with better HRQoL, while avoidant emotion-focused coping (e.g., denial, behavioral disengagement) correlates with poorer HRQoL. Influencing factors affecting coping strategy selection include sex, age, income, education, social support, spiritual beliefs, illness duration, and HF severity, though evidence on their precise roles is inconsistent. The review highlights a need for clearer conceptual distinctions between coping types and more longitudinal and experimental research to better understand these relationships and improve interventions for HF patients.