Objectives  To explore the influencing factors of health related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients with chronic Keshan disease (KD) in Chongqing, and to provide reference for improving the prognosis of KD patients.

Methods  A total of 43 chronic Keshan disease patients treated in the department of cardiology of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University from January 2011 to May 2015 were recruited as chronic Ke-shan disease group. Another 47 healthy volunteers were selected as the control group. The general situation of subjects were analysed, and a SF-36 scale was used to assess HRQOL scores. The one-way ANOVA and stepwise regression analysis were used to investigate influencing factors of HRQOL.

Results  The average total score of HRQOL in control group was 556.25±124.75 and that in Chronic Keshan disease group was 451.14±94.35. There was a significant difference between the two groups on HRQOL (t=2.43, P < 0.001=0.00) and on PF, RP, GH, VT, SF, RE and MH (P < 0.05). The result of stepwise regression analysis showed that heart function classification, treatment, left ventricular Tei index, age, cardiothoracic ratio, income and exercise were the main influencing factors for HRQOL. The total HRQOL score was negatively correlated with heart function classification, left ventricular Tei index, age and cardiothoracic ratio (P < 0.05). The total HRQOL score was positively correlated with receiving treatment, income and exercise(P < 0.05).

Conclusions  The life quality of patients with chronic Keshan disease in Chongqing were not good, and the physical health of patients were damaged. The result suggested that medical staffs should ask patients to actively receive treatment and strengthen exercise, intervene basic diseases, pay more attention to low-income patients and elder patients, improve heart function and correct arrhythmia of patients. The life quality of patients with chronic Keshan disease could be significantly improved by above measures.