Thoughts about death and perceived health status in elderly patients with heart failure.
Eur J Heart Fail 2008;
10:608-13. [PMID:
18499518 DOI:
10.1016/j.ejheart.2008.04.011]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2007] [Revised: 04/02/2008] [Accepted: 04/24/2008] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
AIM
To explore thoughts about death and perceived health status in elderly patients with heart failure during a 6 month period after a deterioration needing hospitalisation.
METHODS
A descriptive, mixed methods design was used. Health was measured with EuroQol-5D, thoughts about death with multiple choice and open questions. A total of 145 patients with New York Heart Association class II-IV heart failure, mean age 70 years, 70% males, were included.
RESULTS
During deterioration, 16% of the patients were afraid of dying and 4% had this fear very often. Fear of death did not change significantly during the 6 months after deterioration. Both during deterioration (r=0.26, P<0.01) and 6 months later (r=0.40, P<0.001), fear of death and anxiety/depression were correlated. Content analysis of the open question produced 5 categories: (1) Death as a natural part of life; (2) Death as a relief from symptoms and disability (3) Death as fearful (4) Arrangements for time after death (5) A wish for an extended life.
CONCLUSION
Elderly patients with heart failure had a lot of thoughts about death. Higher levels of anxiety/depression were correlated to fear of death. Many expressed death as a natural relief from suffering, others were afraid of pain, loss of independence and dignity.
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