Symptom burden in heart failure: assessment, impact on outcomes, and management

Pain, Return to Community Status, and 90-Day Mortality Among Hospitalized Patients With Heart Failure

BACKGROUND

Pain is common among patients with heart failure but has not been examined with short-term discharge outcomes. The purpose was to examine whether pain at discharge predicts return to community status and 90-day mortality among hospitalized patients with heart failure.

METHODS

Data from medical records of 2169 patients hospitalized with heart failure were analyzed in this retrospective cohort study. The independent variable was a diagnosis of pain at discharge. Outcomes were return to community status (yes/no) and 90-day mortality. Logistic regression was used to address aims. Covariates included age, gender, race, vital signs, comorbid symptoms, comorbid conditions, cardiac devices, and length of stay.

RESULTS

The sample had a mean age of 66.53 years, and was 57.4% women and 55.9% Black. Of 2169 patients, 1601 (73.8%) returned to community, and 117 (5.4%) died at or before 90 days. Patients with pain returned to community less frequently (69.6%) compared with patients without pain (75.2%), which was a statistically significant relationship (odds ratio, 0.74; 95% confidence interval, 0.57-0.97; P = .028). Other variables that predicted return to community status included age, comorbid conditions, dyspnea, fatigue, systolic blood pressure, and length of stay. Pain did not predict increased 90-day mortality. Variables that predicted mortality included age, liver disease, and systolic blood pressure.

CONCLUSION

Patients with pain were less likely to return to community but did not have higher 90-day mortality. Pain in combination with other symptoms and comorbid conditions may play a role in mortality if acute pain versus chronic pain can be stratified in a future study.

Palliative Care Across the Spectrum of Heart Failure

Persons with heart failure (HF) often suffer from poor symptom control, decreased quality of life, and poor communication with their health care providers. These needs are particularly acute in advanced HF, a leading cause of death in the United States. Palliative care, when offered alongside HF disease management, offers improved symptom control, quality of life, communication, and caregiver satisfaction as well as reduced caregiver anxiety. The dynamic nature of the clinical trajectory of HF presents distinct symptom patterns, changing functional status, and uncertainty, which requires an adaptive, dynamic model of palliative care delivery. Due to a limited specialty-trained palliative care workforce, patients and their caregivers often cannot access these benefits, especially in the community. To meet these needs, new models are required that are better informed by high-quality data, engage a range of health care providers in primary palliative care principles, and have clear triggers for specialty palliative care engagement, with specific palliative interventions tailored to patient's illness trajectory and changing needs.

Health-related quality of life of people with heart failure in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

Heart failure is a global health concern and associated with poor health-related quality of life and increased mortality. There is a disproportionate burden on patients and health systems in low- and middle-income countries. This systematic review and meta-analysis estimates the health-related quality of life of people with heart failure in low- and middle-income countries.

METHODS

A systematic literature search was conducted to identify relevant studies from January 2012 to November 2022 using the following databases: MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Web of Science, Scopus and JBI EBP database. Study screening, quality appraisal and data extraction were conducted using JBI methodology. A random-effects model was used to perform the meta-analysis. Heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 statistic. All statistical analyses were done in STATA version 17.

RESULTS

A total of 33 studies with 5612 participants were included in this review. The Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ) and the Short-Form-36 questionnaire (SF-36) were the most used instruments across 19 and 8 studies, respectively. The pooled mean MLHFQ and SF-36 scores using the random-effects model were 46.08 (95% CI 35.06, 57.10) and 41.23 (95% CI 36.63, 45.83), respectively. In a subgroup analysis using both instruments, the highest health-related quality-of-life scores occurred in studies with inpatient participants.

CONCLUSION

The overall health-related quality of life of people with heart failure in low- and middle-income countries is poor. Strategies should be strategically developed to improve the health-related quality of life of people with heart failure in these countries.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION

PROSPERO CRD42022377781.

Symptoms and signs in patients with heart failure: association with 3-month hospitalisation and mortality

OBJECTIVES

To determine the association between symptoms and signs reported in primary care consultations following a new diagnosis of heart failure (HF), and 3-month hospitalisation and mortality.

DESIGN

Nested case-control study with density-based sampling.

SETTING

Clinical Practice Research Datalink, linked to hospitalisation and mortality (1998-2020).

PARTICIPANTS

Database cohort of 86 882 patients with a new HF diagnosis. In two separate analyses for (1) first hospitalisation and (2) death, we compared the 3-month history of symptoms and signs in cases (patients with HF with the event), with their respective controls (patients with HF without the respective event, matched on diagnosis date (±1 month) and follow-up time). Controls could be included more than once and later become a case.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

All-cause, HF and non-cardiovascular disease (non-CVD) hospitalisation and mortality.

RESULTS

During a median follow-up of 3.22 years (IQR: 0.59-8.18), 56 677 (65%) experienced first hospitalisation and 48 146 (55%) died. These cases were matched to 356 714 and 316 810 HF controls, respectively. For HF hospitalisation, the strongest adjusted associations were for symptoms and signs of fluid overload: pulmonary oedema (adjusted OR 3.08; 95% CI 2.52, 3.64), shortness of breath (2.94; 2.77, 3.11) and peripheral oedema (2.16; 2.00, 2.32). Generic symptoms also showed significant associations: depression (1.50; 1.18, 1.82), anxiety (1.35; 1.06, 1.64) and pain (1.19; 1.10, 1.28). Non-CVD hospitalisation had the strongest associations with chest pain (2.93; 2.77, 3.09), fatigue (1.87; 1.73, 2.01), general pain (1.87; 1.81, 1.93) and depression (1.59; 1.44, 1.74).

CONCLUSIONS

In the primary care HF population, routinely recorded cardiac and non-specific symptoms showed differential risk associations with hospitalisation and mortality.

The effect of caregivers' care burden and psychological resilience on the psychosocial adjustment of patients with open heart surgery in Turkey

This cross-sectional study investigated the effect of caregivers' care (n = 100) burden and psychological resilience on the psychosocial adjustment of patients (n = 100) with open heart surgery. Patients had poor psychosocial adjustment. Caregivers who felt incompetent in providing care had a higher care burden and a lower psychological resilience than those who did not. In addition, patients whose caregivers had higher resilience and lower burden of care had better psychosocial adjustment. The results of this study compellingly demonstrate the importance and necessity of supportive and preventive clinical social work interventions to enhance patients' adaptation to a new lifestyle and compliance with treatment during the cardiac rehabilitation process, and reduce the burden on caregivers.

Determinants of depressive symptoms in patients with heart failure based on the hopelessness theory of depression

AIMS

Depressive symptoms are common in patients with heart failure (HF) and are associated with adverse outcomes in this group. This study examined depressive symptoms and associated determinants in patients with HF based on the hopelessness theory of depression.

METHODS AND RESULTS

In this cross-sectional study, a total of 282 patients with HF were recruited from 3 cardiovascular units of a university hospital. Symptom burden, optimism, maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies (MCERSs), hopelessness, and depressive symptoms were assessed using self-reported questionnaires. A path analysis model was established to evaluate the direct and indirect effects. The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 13.8% in the patients. Symptom burden had the greatest direct effect on depressive symptoms (β = 0.406; P < 0.001), optimism affected depressive symptoms both directly and indirectly with hopelessness as the mediator (direct: β = -0.360; P = 0.001; indirect: β = -0.169; P < 0.001), and MCERSs only had an indirect effect on depressive symptoms with hopelessness as the mediator (β = 0.035; P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

In patients with HF, symptom burden, decreased optimism, and hopelessness contribute to depressive symptoms directly. What is more, decreased optimism and MCERS lead to depressive symptoms indirectly via hopelessness. Accordingly, interventions aimed at decreasing symptom burden, enhancing optimism, and reducing the use of MCERSs, while declining hopelessness, may be conducive to relieving depressive symptoms in patients with HF.

Palliative Care Utilisation and Outcomes in Patients Admitted for Heart Failure in a Victorian Healthcare Service

BACKGROUND

Heart failure (HF) has high mortality and healthcare utilisation. It has a complex and unpredictable trajectory, which is often interpreted as a barrier to guideline recommended early integration of palliative care (PC). In particular, lack of referral criteria and misconceptions around PC affect inpatient specialist PC referrals.

AIMS

The main objective was to characterise the pattern and predictors of referral of HF patients to the specialist inpatient PC consultative service at our healthcare service.

METHODS

A retrospective, single-centre cohort study was performed on consecutive patients admitted across the hospital with HF over a 12-month period (July 2019-June 2020). Mortality data were checked against state death registry data.

RESULTS

The 502 patients admitted for HF were elderly (mean age 78±14 years), had high dependency (54% Australian-modified Karnofsky Performance Status (AKPS) 50-70, 29% AKPS 10-40), and high mortality (53% within median 32 months at death registry data linkage). Seven per cent (7%) were referred to inpatient specialist PC. AKPS 10-40 (62% of those referred vs 26% not referred, p<0.01), reliance on carers (65% vs 36%, p<0.01), and New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III-IV symptoms (86% vs 42%, p<0.01) were associated with referral, but two or more admissions in the last 12 months for HF were not (16% vs 10%, p=0.21). Many PC domains, such as symptom burden, distress, and preferred care, were not adequately assessed.

CONCLUSIONS

Referral to inpatient specialist PC in hospitalised HF patients is low relative to the morbidity and mortality in these patients.

Pain and Heart Failure During Transport by Emergency Medical Services and Its Associated Outcomes: Hospitalization, Mortality, and Length of Stay

BACKGROUND

Over 22% of patients with heart failure (HF) are transported by emergency medical services (EMSs) for a primary complaint of pain. The relationship between a primary complaint of pain on hospitalization status, mortality, or length of stay following transport by EMS is understudied.

OBJECTIVES

The objective of this study was to determine whether a primary complaint of pain during EMS transport predicted hospitalization status, mortality, or inpatient length of stay.

METHODS

In this retrospective longitudinal cohort study, data were analyzed from electronic health records of 3539 patients with HF. Descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic and linear regression analyses were used to achieve study objectives.

RESULTS

Demographics were mean age 64.83 years (standard deviation [SD] = 14.58); gender 57.3% women, 42.7% men; self-reported race 56.2% black, 43.2% white, and 0.7% other. Of 3539 patients, 2346 (66.3%) were hospitalized, 149 (4.2%) died, and the mean length of stay was 6.02 (SD = 7.55) days. A primary complaint of pain did not predict increased odds of in-hospital mortality but did predict 39% lower odds of hospitalization (p < .001), and 26.7% shorter length of stay (p < .001). Chest pain predicted 49% lower odds of hospitalization (p < .001) and 34.1% (p < .001) shorter length of stay, whereas generalized pain predicted 45% lower odds of hospitalization (p = .044) following post-hoc analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

A primary complaint of chest pain predicted lower odds of hospitalization and shorter length of stay, possibly due to established treatment regimens. Additional research is needed to examine chronic pain rather than a primary complaint of pain.

Chapter 1: The Burden of Heart Failure

Heart failure (HF) affects an estimated 6 million American adults, and the prevalence continues to increase, driven in part by the aging of the population and by increases in the prevalence of diabetes. In recent decades, improvements in the survival of patients with HF have resulted in a growing number of individuals living longer with HF. HF and its comorbidities are associated with substantial impairments in physical functioning, emotional well-being, and quality of life, and also with markedly increased rates of morbidity and mortality. As a result, the management of patients with HF has a substantial economic impact on the health care system, with most costs arising from hospitalization. Clinicians have an important role in helping to reduce the burden of HF through timely diagnosis of HF as well as increasing access to effective treatments to minimize symptoms, delay progression, and reduce hospital admissions. Prevention and early diagnosis of HF will play a fundamental role in efforts to reduce the large and growing burden of HF. Recent advances in pharmacotherapies for HF have the potential to radically change the management of HF, offering the possibility of improved survival and quality of life for patients.

Psychometric Evaluation of the Heart Failure Somatic Perception Scale in a Middle Eastern Heart Failure Population

BACKGROUND

The Heart Failure Somatic Perception Scale (HFSPS) is an 18-item instrument used to assess how bothersome are common signs and symptoms of heart failure (HF). To date, the psychometric properties of the HFSPS have been tested in American, Italian, and Japanese samples.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the validity and reliability of the HFSPS in a population of Lebanese patients living with HF.

METHODS

A rigorous translation and back-translation process was performed. Cultural appropriateness ratings were assessed by an expert panel. Exploratory factor analysis was conducted to confirm construct validity, whereas an independent t test using the Minnesota Living With HF Questionnaire's scores was conducted to confirm convergent validity. Pearson correlation was performed to confirm discriminant validity using the Self-Care in HF Index Management subscale, whereas predictive validity was evaluated using the Control Attitudes Scale-Revised. Internal consistency reliability was evaluated using Cronbach α.

RESULTS

A total of 109 patients (mean age, 63.66 ± 10.55 years; 69.7% male) were included. A series of exploratory factor analyses was conducted and resulted in a 4-factor model. Cronbach α was 0.869. Convergent (high correlation with total Minnesota Living With HF Questionnaire; r = 0.762, P < .0001), discriminant (no correlation with self-care management; r = 0.180, P = .078), and predictive (significant correlation with the Control Attitudes Scale-Revised; r = -0.523, P < .0001) validity was supported.

CONCLUSION

The reliability and validity of the HFSPS were supportive in this Middle Eastern sample. The HFSPS can be used to assess how bothersome HF symptoms are to improve their management.

Sympathetic dysfunction is associated with worse fatigue and early and subtle symptoms in heart failure: an exploratory sex-stratified analysis

AIMS

Physical symptoms impact patients with heart failure (HF) despite treatment advancements; however, our understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms underlying HF symptoms remains limited, including sex differences therein. The objective of this study was to quantify associations between sympathetic markers [norepinephrine (NE) and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylglycol (DHPG)] and physical symptoms in patients with HF and to explore sex differences in these associations.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We performed a secondary analysis of combined data from two studies: outpatients with HF (n = 111), and patients prior to left ventricular assist device implantation (n = 38). Physical symptoms were measured with the Heart Failure Somatic Perception Scale (HFSPS) dyspnoea and early/subtle symptom subscales and the Functional Assessment in Chronic Illness Therapy Fatigue Scale (FACIT-F) to capture dyspnoea, early symptoms of decompensation, and fatigue. Norepinephrine and DHPG were measured with high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. Multivariate linear regression was used to quantify associations between symptoms and sympathetic markers. The sample (n = 149) was 60.8 ± 15.7 years, 41% women, and 71% non-ischaemic aetiology. Increased plasma NE and NE:DHPG ratio were associated with worse FACIT-F scores (P = 0.043 and P = 0.013, respectively). Increased plasma NE:DHPG ratio was associated with worse HFSPS early/subtle symptoms (P = 0.025). In sex-stratified analyses, increased NE:DHPG ratio was associated with worse FACIT-F scores (P = 0.011) and HFSPS early/subtle scores (P = 0.022) among women but not men.

CONCLUSION

In patients with HF, sympathetic dysfunction is associated with worse fatigue and early/subtle physical symptoms with associations stronger in women than men.

Heart failure symptom burden in outpatient cardiology: observational cohort study

OBJECTIVES

To assess the self-reported symptom burden in patients with a diagnosis of heart failure attending an outpatient cardiology clinic through the utilisation of validated patient-reported outcome measures.

METHODS

Eligible patients were invited to partake in this observational cohort study. Participant demographics and comorbidities were recorded, followed by participants recording their symptoms using the Integrated Palliative care Outcome Scale (IPOS) and Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) outcome measure tools.

RESULTS

A total of 22 patients were included in the study. The majority were male (n=15). The median age was 74.5 (range 55-94) years. Atrial fibrillation and hypertension were the most common comorbidities (n=10). Dyspnoea, weakness and poor mobility were the most prevalent symptoms, affecting 15 (68%) of the 22 patients. Dyspnoea was reported as being the most troublesome symptom. The BPI was completed by 68% (n=15) of the study participants. Median average pain score was 5/10; median worst pain score in the preceding 24 hours was 6/10 and median pain score at time of BPI completion was 3/10. The impact of pain on daily living during the preceding 24 hours ranged from impacting on all activities (n=7) to not impacting on activities (n=1).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with heart failure experience a range of symptoms that vary in severity. Introduction of a symptom assessment tool in the cardiology outpatient setting could help identify patients with a high symptom burden and prompt timely referral to specialist palliative care services.

Symptom Burden and Quality of Life Among Patients With Heart Failure

Introduction

Heart failure is a debilitating condition that is associated with several burdensome symptoms that impede patients' quality of life. However, patients' experience of distressing symptoms and their impacts on their quality of life is not studied in Jordan.

Objectives

To assess the severity of distressing symptoms and to assess the relationships between these symptoms and the quality of life among patients with heart failure in Jordan.

Methods

A descriptive cross-sectional design was used. A convenience sampling approach was used to recruit the participants. Heart failure patients (n  =  167) who visited the outpatient clinics in three hospitals in Amman between July and November 2021 were included. The Edmonton Symptom Assessment System and Short-Form 36 tool were used.

Results

Participants were more likely males with a mean age of 55.2 years (SD  =  13.7). The most distressing symptoms among patients with heart failure were tiredness (M  =  4.56, SD  =  3.24), worse well-being (M  =  4.34, SD  =  2.52), and drowsiness (M  =  3.5, SD  =  3.06), respectively. Symptoms burden were negatively associated with the physical and the mental components summary of the quality of life. Pain, tiredness, nausea, loss of appetite, anxiety, and poor well-being were significant predictors of the physical components. The predictors of the mental components were tiredness, nausea, loss of appetite, and anxiety.

Conclusions

This study revealed that patients with heart failure facing significant symptom burden. The patients showed inadequate quality of life in both physical and mental components that were inversely associated with symptom burden. Given the debilitating effects of symptom burden on heart failure patients' quality of life, therefore, symptom assessment and management have to be a priority.

End-Of-Life Care for Patients With End-Stage Heart Failure, Comparisons of International Guidelines

Heart failure (HF) is a chronic, debilitating condition associated with significant morbidity, mortality, and socioeconomic burden. Patients with end-stage HF (ESHF) who are not a candidate for advanced therapies will continue to progress despite standard medical therapy. Thus, the focus of care shifts from prolonging life to controlling symptoms and improving quality of life through palliative care (PC). Because the condition and prognosis of HF patients evolve and can rapidly deteriorate, it is imperative to begin the discussion on end-of-life (EOL) issues early during HF management. These include the completion of an advance directive, do-not-resuscitate orders, and policies on device therapy and discontinuation as part of advance care planning (ACP). ESHF patients who do not have indications for advanced therapies or those who wish not to have a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) or heart transplant (HT) often experience high symptom burden despite adequate medical management. The proper identification and assessment of symptoms such as pain, dyspnea, nausea, depression, and anxiety are essential to the management of ESHF and may be underdiagnosed and undertreated. Psychological support and spiritual care are also crucial to improving the quality of life during EOL. Caregivers of ESHF patients must also be provided supportive care to prevent compassion fatigue and improve resilience in patient care. In this narrative review, we compare the international guidelines and provide an overview of end-of-life and palliative care for patients with ESHF.

Feasibility of a Multi-Component Strengths-Building Intervention for Caregivers of Persons With Heart Failure

Caregivers of persons with heart failure (HF) navigate complex care plans, yet support strategies often focus solely on meeting the needs of patients. We conducted a randomized waitlist control trial (N = 38) to test the feasibility and gauge initial effect size of the Caregiver Support intervention on quality of life, caregiver burden, and self-efficacy among HF caregivers. The intervention includes up to five remote, nurse-facilitated sessions. Components address: holistic caregiver assessment, life purpose, action planning, resources, and future planning. Caregivers were 93.3% female, 60% White, and 63.3% spouses. Average age was 59.4. Participants who completed the intervention reported high satisfaction and acceptability of activities. Between-group effect sizes at 16 and 32 weeks suggest improvement in quality of life (mental health) (.88; 1.08), caregiver burden (.31; .37), and self-efficacy (.63; .74). Caregivers found Caregiver Support acceptable and feasible. Findings contribute evidence that this intervention can enhance caregiver outcomes. Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier NCT04090749.

The Mediator Role of Meaning in Life in the Life Quality of Patients With Chronic Heart Failure

PURPOSE

Heart failure (HF) is a highly recurrent disease with a high sudden death rate and a substantial influence on disease-related quality of life (QOL). Social support, symptom distress, care needs, and meaning in life all have significant impacts on QOL. We hypothesized that meaning in life plays a mediating role in the relationship of social support, symptom distress, and care needs with QOL among patients with chronic HF.

METHODS

Based on cross-sectional analysis, we recruited 186 HF outpatients who completed structured questionnaires for social support, symptom distress, care needs, meaning in life, and QOL. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the mediating role of meaning in life in the relationship of social support, symptom distress, and care needs with QOL.

RESULTS

The final model showed good model fit. Meaning in life was associated with global QOL (β = 0.18, p = .032). Although symptom distress (β = -0.26, p = .005) and care needs (β = -0.36, p = .021) were negatively associated with global QOL, meaning in life played a partial mediating role between symptom distress and global QOL (β = -0.02, p = .023) and between care needs and global QOL (β = -0.07, p = .030). However, meaning in life played a complete mediating role between social support and global QOL (β = 0.08, p = .047). The model showed that meaning in life, symptom distress, and care needs explained 50% of global QOL.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with chronic HF, meaning in life played a mediating role in the relationship of social support, symptom distress, and care needs with QOL. Implementing an intervention to enrich meaning in life may help patients manage the issues caused by symptoms and alleviate their unmet needs.

Dyadic Associations Between Burden and Depressive Symptoms Among Patients With Heart Failure and Their Caregivers: The Mediating Role of Perceived Stress

BACKGROUND

Depressive symptoms are prevalent in patients with heart failure and their family caregivers. Given the interpersonal interactions between dyadic individuals with intimate relationship, it is essential to consider the dyads as a unit when exploring the factors associated with depressive symptoms in heart failure patient-caregiver dyads.

OBJECTIVE

The aims of this study were to explore the dyadic effects of burden on depressive symptoms in heart failure patient-caregiver dyads and investigate whether perceived stress acts as a mediator in these relationships.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, 237 heart failure patient-caregiver dyads were recruited from 3 hospitals in China between November 2018 and June 2019. Symptom burden, caregiving burden, perceived stress, and depressive symptoms were assessed using self-report questionnaires. The actor-partner interdependence model and actor-partner interdependence mediation model were used to analyze the data.

RESULTS

Patients' symptom burden had an actor effect on their own depressive symptoms and a partner effect on their caregivers' depressive symptoms. Similarly, caregivers' caregiving burden had an actor effect on their own depressive symptoms and a partner effect on patients' depressive symptoms. The actor effects between burden and depressive symptoms were partially mediated by their own perceived stress in heart failure patient-caregiver dyads. Furthermore, the partner effect between caregivers' caregiving burden and patients' depressive symptoms was completely mediated by patients' perceived stress.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients' symptom burden and caregivers' caregiving burden aggravated their depressive symptoms by increasing their own perceived stress. Moreover, patients' symptom burden led to caregivers' depressive symptoms, and caregivers' caregiving burden contributed to patients' depressive symptoms through patients' perceived stress. These interdependent relationships suggest that dyadic interventions focused on reducing burden and perceived stress may be beneficial for relieving depressive symptoms in heart failure patient-caregiver dyads.

Spirituality and heart failure: a systematic review

OBJECTIVES

Heart failure (HF) is a frequent chronic disease with disturbing symptoms and complex treatments, associated with depression and lower quality of life. Some studies have shown that spirituality and religiosity may be relevant in these patients. We aimed to systematically review the medical literature on spirituality and religiosity in patients with HF.

METHODS

Major databases for studies investigating the effect of spirituality and religiosity in people affected by HF were searched from inception until 26th April 2023. Studies with clear definition of spirituality or religiosity, validated diagnosis of HF, and reporting outcomes of interest (i.e., incidence of mortality, cardiovascular outcomes, and quality of life) were included.

RESULTS

Among 810 non-duplicate records, we screened the full texts of 25 works. After excluding 18 studies, we included 7 studies (3 observational and 4 interventional) comprising 1234 HF patients followed up over a median of 3 months. Definitions of spirituality and religiosity were heterogeneous among the studies. The intervention studies showed improvements in quality-of-life parameters, some cardiovascular outcomes, or mortality, and the observational studies showed significant associations with these outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite the extreme heterogeneity of the populations included, of the definition of spirituality and religiosity, and of the interventions in the few studies that included it, all the studies reported some positive associations with the outcomes examined. Spirituality/religiosity is an aspect not generally taken into account in the usual practice of medicine and can potentially contribute to improving the conditions of patients with HF, a chronic disease with unfavorable prognosis.

Characteristics of symptoms and symptom change across different heart failure subtypes: a sex-stratified analysis

AIMS

To examine sex-stratified differences in the association of left ventricular ejection fraction-based heart failure (HF) subtypes and the characteristics and correlates of self-reported changes in HF symptoms.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We report a secondary data analysis from 528 hospitalized individuals diagnosed with HF characterised by a reduced, mildly reduced, or preserved ejection fraction [HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), HF with mildly reduced ejection fraction (HFmrEF), or HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF)] who completed 12-month follow-up within a multicentre disease management trial. There were 302 men (71.1 ± 11.9 years, 58% with HFrEF) and 226 women (77.1 ± 10.6 years, 49% with HFpEF). The characteristics of self-reported symptoms measured by the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ) at baseline and 12-month were analysed. At baseline, shortness of breath and fatigue predominated; with key differences according to HF subtypes in bilateral ankle oedema (both sexes), walking problems (women) and depressive symptoms (men). At 12-month follow-up, most KCCQ scores had not significantly changed. However, 25% of individuals reported worse symptom. In women, those with HFpEF had worse symptoms than those with HFmrEF/HFrEF (P = 0.025). On an adjusted basis, women [odds ratios (OR): 1.78, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.00-3.16 vs. men], those with coronary artery disease (OR: 2.01, 95% CI: 1.21-3.31) and baseline acute pulmonary oedema (OR: 1.67, 95% CI: 1.02-2.75) were most likely to report worsening symptoms. Among men, worsening symptoms correlated with a history of hypertension (OR: 2.16, 95% CI: 1.07-4.35) and a non-English-speaking background (OR: 2.30, 95% CI: 1.02-5.20).

CONCLUSION

We found significant heterogeneity (with potential clinical implications) in the symptomatic characteristics and subsequent symptom trajectory according to the sex and HF subtype of those hospitalized with the syndrome.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ANZCTR12613000921785.

Mediation by Fatalism of the Association Between Symptom Burden and Self-care Management in Patients With Heart Failure

BACKGROUND

Clinicians and researchers often assume that symptom burden is associated with self-care management (SCM) in patients with heart failure (HF). However, that association is often not borne out in simple regression analyses and may be because another variable mediates the association. Fatalism is an appropriate candidate for mediation and is the belief that circumstances are predetermined without opportunity for control by individuals.

OBJECTIVE

Our objective was to determine whether fatalism mediated the relationship of symptom burden with SCM among adults with HF.

METHODS

We conducted a secondary analysis (N = 95) from a clinical trial. We used Self-care of HF Index to measure SCM, the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale-HF for symptom burden, and the Cardiovascular Disease Fatalism Instrument to measure fatalism. We used the PROCESS macro to evaluate mediation.

RESULTS

Symptom burden was not directly associated with SCM (effect coefficient [C'] = 0.0805; 95% confidence interval, -0.048 to 0.209; P = .217). There was, however, an indirect pathway between symptom burden and SCM through fatalism (ab = -0.040; 95% confidence interval, -0.097 to -0.002). Those with higher symptom burden were more fatalistic (a = 0.004, P = .015), and greater fatalism was associated with worse SCM (b = -9.132, P = .007).

CONCLUSION

Symptom burden, not directly associated with SCM, is associated through the mediator of fatalism. Interventions to improve SCM should include strategies to mitigate fatalistic views. Self-care management interventions should focus on promoting internal locus of control or increasing perceptions of perceived control to decrease fatalism and improve engagement in self-care.

Top Ten Tips Palliative Care Clinicians Should Know About Delivering Specialty-Aligned Palliative Care

Specialty-aligned palliative care (SAPC) refers to interprofessional palliative care (PC) that is delivered to a specific population of patients in close partnership with other primary or specialty clinicians. As evolving PC models address physical, psychosocial, and spiritual suffering across illnesses and settings, PC clinicians must acquire advanced knowledge of disease-specific symptoms, common treatments, and complications that impact prognosis and outcomes. The tips provided in this article draw on the experience and knowledge of interprofessional PC and other specialist clinicians from diverse institutions across the United States who have developed and studied SAPC services across different disease groups. Recommendations include focusing on approaching specialty team partnerships with humility, curiosity, and diplomacy; focusing on patient populations where PC needs are great; clarifying how work and responsibilities will be divided between PC and other clinicians to the extent possible; using consults as opportunities for bidirectional learning; and adapting workflows and schedules to meet specialty team needs while managing expectations and setting limits as appropriate. Furthermore, to provide effective SAPC, PC clinicians must learn about the specific symptoms, prognoses, and common treatments of the patients they are serving. They must also build trusting relationships and maintain open communication with patients and referring clinicians to ensure integrated and aligned PC delivery.

Mitochondrial dynamics in health and disease: mechanisms and potential targets

Mitochondria are organelles that are able to adjust and respond to different stressors and metabolic needs within a cell, showcasing their plasticity and dynamic nature. These abilities allow them to effectively coordinate various cellular functions. Mitochondrial dynamics refers to the changing process of fission, fusion, mitophagy and transport, which is crucial for optimal function in signal transduction and metabolism. An imbalance in mitochondrial dynamics can disrupt mitochondrial function, leading to abnormal cellular fate, and a range of diseases, including neurodegenerative disorders, metabolic diseases, cardiovascular diseases and cancers. Herein, we review the mechanism of mitochondrial dynamics, and its impacts on cellular function. We also delve into the changes that occur in mitochondrial dynamics during health and disease, and offer novel perspectives on how to target the modulation of mitochondrial dynamics.

The association between psychological factors and self-care in patients with heart failure: an integrative review

AIMS

This integrative review aims to describe the current evidence concerning the relationship between a broad range of psychological factors (depression, depressive symptoms, anxiety, stress, and type-D personality) and self-care in patients with heart failure.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Six electronic databases were searched and keywords were used to identify potential eligible studies published within the last 10 years. To be eligible, individuals with heart failure aged 18 years or older and who were included in any type of observational study that examined the association between psychological factors and self-care were considered. Twenty articles were included, and 16 of them reported that depression/depressive symptoms were associated with poorer self-care, after controlling for age, sex, education level, cardiac history, or comorbidities. Five studies found that self-care confidence/self-efficacy mediates the relationship between depression/depressive symptoms and self-care. The association between depression/depressive symptoms and self-care varied in assessment methods and statistical approaches. Seven studies showed an inverse association between anxiety and self-care. Four studies found a stronger association between self-care and depression compared with the relationship between self-care and other psychological factors. Stress and type-D personality were both associated with self-care in four studies.

CONCLUSION

Depression/depressive symptoms and anxiety were found to be inversely associated with self-care in patients with heart failure. Depression exhibited a stronger impact on self-care than other psychological factors. Limited studies assessed stress and type-D personality; the results should be considered with caution. Further studies are warranted on different psychological factors and their underlying mechanisms in individuals with heart failure.

Unsupervised machine learning identifies symptoms of indigestion as a predictor of acute decompensation and adverse cardiac events in patients with heart failure presenting to the emergency department

BACKGROUND

Patients with known heart failure (HF) present to emergency departments (ED) with a plethora of symptoms. Although symptom clusters have been suggested as prognostic features, accurately triaging HF patients is a longstanding challenge.

OBJECTIVES

We sought to use machine learning to identify subtle phenotypes of patient symptoms and evaluate their diagnostic and prognostic value among HF patients seeking emergency care.

METHODS

This was a secondary analysis of a prospective cohort study of consecutive patients seen in the ED for chest pain or equivalent symptoms. Independent reviewers extracted clinical data from charts, including nine categories of subjective symptoms reported during initial evaluation. The diagnostic outcome was acute HF exacerbation and prognostic outcome was 30-day major adverse cardiac events (MACE). Outcomes were adjudicated by two independent reviewers. K-means clustering was used to derive latent patient symptom clusters, and their associations with outcomes were assessed using multivariate logistic regression.

RESULTS

Sample included 438 patients (age 65±14 years; 45% female, 49% Black, 18% HF exacerbation, 32% MACE). K-means clustering identified three presentation phenotypes: patients with dyspnea only (Cluster A, 40%); patients with indigestion, with or without dyspnea (Cluster B, 23%); patients with neither dyspnea nor indigestion (Cluster C, 37%). Compared to Cluster C, indigestion was a significant predictor of acute HF exacerbation (OR=1.8, 95%CI=1.0-3.4) and 30-day MACE (OR=1.8, 95%CI=1.0-3.1), independent of age, sex, race, and other comorbidities.

CONCLUSION

Indigestion symptoms in patients with known HF signify excess risk of adverse events, suggesting that these patients should be triaged as high-risk during initial ED evaluation.

Sex differences in the impact of physical frailty on outcomes in heart failure

BACKGROUND

Physical frailty is strongly related to adverse outcomes in heart failure (HF), and women are more likely to be physically frail than men; however, it is unknown if this sex difference affects outcomes.

OBJECTIVES

To determine if there are sex differences in the associations between physical frailty and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and clinical outcomes in HF.

METHODS

We conducted a prospective study of adults with HF. Physical frailty was assessed using the Frailty Phenotype Criteria. HRQOL was assessed using the Minnesota Living with HF Questionnaire. One-year clinical events (all-cause death or cardiovascular hospitalization or emergency department visit) were ascertained. We used generalized linear modeling to quantify associations between physical frailty and HRQOL, and Cox proportional hazards modeling to quantify associations between physical frailty and clinical events, adjusting for Seattle HF Model scores.

RESULTS

The sample (n = 115) was 63.5 ± 15.7 years old and 49% women. Physical frailty was associated with significantly worse total HRQOL among women (p = 0.005) but not men (p = 0.141). Physical frailty was associated with worse physical HRQOL among both women (p < 0.001) and men (p = 0.043). There was a 46% higher clinical event risk for every one-point increase in physical frailty score among men (p = 0.047) but not women (p = 0.361).

CONCLUSIONS

Physical frailty is associated with worse overall HRQOL among women and higher clinical event risk among men, indicating a need to better understand contributors to sex-specific health differences associated with physical frailty in HF.

Mediation analysis of activities of daily living and kinesiophobia in association between cardiac function and health status of patients with chronic heart failure

AIMS

To explore the mediational effect of activities of daily living (ADL) and kinesiophobia on the cardiac function and health status of patients with chronic heart failure (CHF).

METHODS

From October 2021 to January 2022, a total of 244 CHF patients treated in the Department of Cardiology of general hospitals were recruited by the convenience sampling method. They were investigated with the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia Heart (TSK-SV Heart), the Barthel index for assessing ADL, and the EuroQol five-dimensional questionnaire (EQ-5D) for assessing the health status.

RESULTS

The cardiac function and kinesiophobia of CHF patients were both negatively correlated with their health status (r = -.390 and -0.410, respectively, both p < .01). Besides, the ADL of CHF patients was positively correlated with the health status (r = .320, p < .01). The cardiac function of CHF patients was negatively correlated with the ADL (r = -.412, p < .01), but positively correlated with kinesiophobia (r = .180, p < .01). The mediation proportion of ADL plus kinesiophobia between the cardiac function and health status of CHF patients was 43.48%. Both ADL and kinesiophobia partially mediated the effect of cardiac function on health status in CHF patients, but their mediational effects showed no significant difference (p = .777).

CONCLUSION

Both ADL and kinesiophobia exert obvious mediational effects between cardiac function and health status in CHF patients. Individualized cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programs based on the cardiac function, ADL and kinesiophobia of CHF patients may contribute to reduce the medical burden and improve the well-being of affected people.

Novel Insights into the Molecular Mechanisms of Atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is one of the most fatal diseases in the world. The associated thickening of the arterial wall and its background and consequences make it a very composite disease entity with many mechanisms that lead to its creation. It is an active process, and scientists from various branches are engaged in research, including molecular biologists, cardiologists, and immunologists. This review summarizes the available information on the pathophysiological implications of atherosclerosis, focusing on endothelium dysfunction, inflammatory factors, aging, and uric acid, vitamin D, and miRNA expression as recent evidence of interactions of the molecular and cellular elements. Analyzing new discoveries for the underlying causes of this condition assists the general research to improve understanding of the mechanism of pathophysiology and thus prevention of cardiovascular diseases.

Experiences of Heart Failure and the Treatment Journey: A Mixed-Methods Study Among Patients with Heart Failure in Sweden

Purpose

Qualitative studies that highlight the patient perspective of heart failure (HF) and its impact on the lives of patients are limited. Our study objective was to describe the patient's perspective on HF, including the diagnosis, treatment journey and healthcare interactions, and how HF impacts patients' lives and specifically their health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and work capacity.

Patients and Methods

This cross-sectional, non-interventional, mixed-methods patient experience study comprised: (i) a quantitative online survey with study-specific questions and assessments of HRQoL and work impairment among 101 patients with HF in Sweden and (ii) 35 qualitative interviews to gain in-depth understanding of the patients' experiences.

Results

Patients were found to experience a highly symptomatic and detrimental impact of HF on their HRQoL and work capacity. Fatigue was the most frequently reported symptom, and it was detrimental to all areas of patients' lives limiting them mentally, socially, and physically. Two-thirds of patients were not aware of the type of HF they had, one-third did not check their body weight regularly, and around half did not increase their physical exercise as recommended by both guidelines and healthcare practitioners. Patients preferred specialist to primary care, desired greater access to healthcare, and continuity in whom they interact with in primary care.

Conclusion

Patients with HF experience a highly symptomatic burden that affects them physically, mentally, and socially. Our study highlights a major gap in patients' knowledge about HF and HF-related healthcare. These results demonstrate a challenge for the Swedish healthcare system particularly as regards providing patients with continuity, accessibility, and proximity to primary care.

Relationship Between Symptom Burden and Self-Management Among Patients with Chronic Heart Failure: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background

Chronic heart failure (CHF) is a cardiovascular disease that seriously jeopardizes global human health. Studies indicate that good self-management can be effective in controlling disease symptoms. However, there is still insufficient evidence on the association between self-management and symptom burden among CHF patients. This study aimed to observe and assess the correlation of the self-management with the symptom burden and each dimension status in patients with CHF.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional study. Data were collected in-hospital using convenience sampling, and 128 patients with CHF were included. A general data questionnaire was used to collect demographic and disease-related data. The Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale-Heart Failure was used to measure patients' symptom burdens. The Heart Failure Self-Management Scale was used to measure the self-management level of patients. The correlation between self-management and symptom burden was analyzed using the Spearman correlation.

Results

The total scores for symptom burden and self-management were 1.26 ± 0.49 and 49.97 ± 7.14, respectively. The total score of self-management was negatively correlated with that of symptom burden. The univariate linear regression analysis indicated that age, place of residence, smoking, residence status, New York Heart Association grade of cardiac function, and attitude toward the disease were risk factors for symptom burden. The multiple linear regression analysis indicated that the regression model with symptom burden as a dependent variable included three variables: drug management, symptom management, and attitude toward the disease.

Conclusion

Hospitalized patients with CHF had heavy overall symptom burdens, and their self-management levels were moderate to low. There was a negative correlation between the total self-management score and each dimension of symptom burden.

Getting Into Light Exercise (GENTLE-HF) for Patients With Heart Failure: the Design and Methodology of a Live-Video Group Exercise Study

OBJECTIVE

Newer therapies have increased heart failure (HF) survival rates, but these therapies are rarely curative. The consequence of increased longevity is the likelihood that patients with HF will experience higher symptom burdens over time. Exercise such as cardiac rehabilitation programs can palliate symptom burdens, but numerous barriers prevent exercise participation and adherence. Small pilot studies indicate short-term beneficial effects of gentle forms of exercise such as yoga to address symptom burdens and accommodate comorbidities. Long-term symptom benefit and adherence to yoga are currently unknown. Therefore, a novel a home-based, gentle-stretching intervention that addresses issues of exercise access and adherence is described in this article.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this article is to describe the background, design and study methodology of the Getting Into Light Exercise for HF (GENTLE-HF) randomized controlled trial. Gentle-HF will test a gentle stretching and education intervention compared to an education control group concerning symptom burden (dyspnea, exercise, activity adherence, depression, and anxiety) and quality of life. As an exploratory aim, we also will determine whether rurality moderates the relationships between exercise participation and symptom burden as a measure of health equity.

METHODS

We designed a randomized controlled trial study (n = 234) with 2 arms: a gentle stretching intervention arm with HF education and an HF education-only control. Participants will be recruited from U.S. cardiology clinics in the mid-Atlantic and the San Francisco Bay areas. This recruitment strategy will include individuals from urban, suburban and rural areas and individuals that have diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds. All participants will be provided with an iPad set up to access HF educational topics, and the intervention arm will have both educational and gentle-stretching class links. Both arms will access the HF health education icons on their iPads weekly; they correspond to the 6 months (26 weeks) of study participation. Symptom burden (dyspnea, fatigue, exercise intolerance, depression, anxiety) and quality of life will be measured at the study's start and completion. Study adherence will be measured by using attendance rates and number of class minutes attended.

RESULTS

The GENTLE-HF study is a randomized study that will test the effect of a home-based, video-conference-delivered gentle stretching and HF education intervention designed for patients with HF. The findings will inform whether gentle stretching can decrease symptom burden and potentially provide access to symptom palliation for a diverse population of patients with HF.

Compression wraps as adjuvant therapy in the management of acute systolic heart failure

Background

Guidelines recommend targeting decongestion in management of decompensated HF, with lower extremity edema often serving as the clinical target. LECW are seldom used in the acute setting, with a paucity of data on efficacy in HF, despite serving as a cornerstone of chronic lymphedema management.

Primary objective

Study the efficacy and safety of LECW in acute decompensated HF.

Methods

Open-label, randomized, parallel-group clinical trial.

Primary outcomes

Days on intravenous (IV) diuretic therapy, total hospital length of stay (LOS), and 30-day all-cause readmission.

Results

32 patients were enrolled, with 29 patients completing the study. Enrollment was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Overall LOS was shorter in the intervention group (3.5 vs 6 days, p = 0.05), with no significant difference in total days on IV diuresis or 30-day readmission rate with use of LECW. Fewer patients required continuous diuretic infusion after treatment with LECW (0 vs 7 patients, p = 0.027). The intervention group scored significantly better on the MLWHF (55.5 vs 65, p = 0.021), including both the physical and emotional dimension scores. No adverse events were reported with use of LECW, including a significantly lower incidence of AKI (1 vs 13 patients, p = 0.005).

Conclusion

The use of LECW resulted in reduced hospital LOS compared to standard therapy, with no difference in days of IV diuresis administration or 30-day readmission. Treatment with LECW also resulted in less continuous IV diuretic therapy, fewer incidence of AKI, and improved quality of life. Trends toward less escalation of diuresis, and greater reduction in edema were also observed.

Patient-Reported Status and Heart Failure Outcomes in Asia by Sex, Ethnicity, and Socioeconomic Status

Background

In heart failure (HF), symptoms and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) are known to vary among different HF subgroups, but evidence on the association between changing HRQoL and outcomes has not been evaluated.

Objectives

The authors sought to investigate the relationship between changing symptoms, signs, and HRQoL and outcomes by sex, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status (SES).

Methods

Using the ASIAN-HF (Asian Sudden Cardiac Death in Heart Failure) Registry, we investigated associations between the 6-month change in a "global" symptoms and signs score (GSSS), Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire overall score (KCCQ-OS), and visual analogue scale (VAS) and 1-year mortality or HF hospitalization.

Results

In 6,549 patients (mean age: 62 ± 13 years], 29% female, 27% HF with preserved ejection fraction), women and those in low SES groups had higher symptom burden but lower signs and similar KCCQ-OS to their respective counterparts. Malay patients had the highest GSSS (3.9) and lowest KCCQ-OS (58.5), and Thai/Filipino/others (2.6) and Chinese patients (2.7) had the lowest GSSS scores and the highest KCCQ-OS (73.1 and 74.6, respectively). Compared to no change, worsening of GSSS (>1-point increase), KCCQ-OS (≥10-point decrease) and VAS (>1-point decrease) were associated with higher risk of HF admission/death (adjusted HR: 2.95 [95% CI: 2.14-4.06], 1.93 [95% CI: 1.26-2.94], and 2.30 [95% CI: 1.51-3.52], respectively). Conversely, the same degrees of improvement in GSSS, KCCQ-OS, and VAS were associated with reduced rates (HR: 0.35 [95% CI: 0.25-0.49], 0.25 [95% CI: 0.16-0.40], and 0.64 [95% CI: 0.40-1.00], respectively). Results were consistent across all sex, ethnicity, and SES groups (interaction P > 0.05).

Conclusions

Serial measures of patient-reported symptoms and HRQoL are significant and consistent predictors of outcomes among different groups with HF and provide the potential for a patient-centered and pragmatic approach to risk stratification.

Symptom prevalence, severity, distress and management among patients with chronic diseases

BACKGROUND

Advanced knowledge, technology, and treatment approaches resulted in longer survival rates for patients suffering from chronic diseases. However, symptoms of these diseases persist and affect the individual's entire life and normal functioning.

AIM

To assess symptoms prevalence, severity, distress, and management among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD), chronic heart failure (CHF), and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in Oman.

DESIGN

A descriptive cross-sectional design was used.

SAMPLE AND SETTINGS

The study sample comprised 340 participants who were recruited between May and December 2021 from two referral hospitals and one large dialysis unit in the Sultanate of Oman, Muscat Governate using a convenience sampling technique.

RESULTS

The highly prevalent symptoms among patients with selected chronic diseases were lack of energy (60.9%), pain (57.4%), numbness (53.2%), difficulty sleeping (49.4%), and shortness of breath (45.9%). The most severe symptoms were shortness of breath (53.2%), problems with urination (51.9%), constipation (50.8%), difficulty sleeping (49.7%), and pain (46.2%). The symptom "problems with sexual interests or activity" was found to be the most frequently occurring and highly distressing symptom out of all reported symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

The current study's findings showed that symptoms were prevalent and that some symptoms were frequent, severe, and highly distressing. In addition, patients perceived symptom treatment as inadequate. Psychological symptoms received less treatment attention compared with physical symptoms. One of the mainstays for managing symptoms can be the introduction of palliative care. Providing palliative care to these patients can alleviate their suffering and improve their quality of life. In addition, designing chronic disease self-management programmes can make a difference in patients' life.

Influencing factors of kinesiophobia in older patients with chronic heart failure: A structural equation model

BACKGROUND

Our recent study has demonstrated that kinesiophobia is common in Chinese inpatients with chronic heart failure (CHF). Symptoms of heart failure (HF), coping mode, self-efficacy for exercise (SEE), and social support have been reported to be associated with kinesiophobia. However, little is known about the relationships between these four variables and kinesiophobia in older patients with CHF.

OBJECTIVE

To test a model of influencing factors of kinesiophobia in older CHF patients.

METHODS

A cross-sectional design was conducted from January 2021 to October 2021. The general information questionnaire, the Chinese version of the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia Heart (TSK-SV Heart-C), Symptom Status Questionnaire-Heart Failure, SEE, the Medical Coping Modes Questionnaire, and Social Support Rating Scale were used. Spearman correlation analysis and structural equation model (SEM) were performed for data analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 270 older patients with CHF were recruited. Symptom status of HF (r = 0.455, p < .01), avoidance coping mode (r = 0.393, p <.01), and yielding coping mode (r = 0.439, p < .01) were positively correlated with kinesiophobia, while SEE (r = -0.530, p < .01), facing coping mode (r = -0.479, p < .01), and social support (r = -0.464, p < .01) were negatively correlated with kinesiophobia. SEM analysis showed that social support could affect kinesiophobia through the mediating variables of symptom status of HF, avoidance coping mode, and exercise self-efficacy.

CONCLUSIONS

Symptoms of HF, coping mode, SEE, and social support may play role in kinesiophobia in older CHF patients. We should pay more attention to the synergies among these four variables in the improvement of kinesiophobia.

Decentralized clinical trials and rare diseases: a Drug Information Association Innovative Design Scientific Working Group (DIA-IDSWG) perspective

BACKGROUND

Traditional clinical trials require tests and procedures that are administered in centralized clinical research sites, which are beyond the standard of care that patients receive for their rare and chronic diseases. The limited number of rare disease patients scattered around the world makes it particularly challenging to recruit participants and conduct these traditional clinical trials.

MAIN BODY

Participating in clinical research can be burdensome, especially for children, the elderly, physically and cognitively impaired individuals who require transportation and caregiver assistance, or patients who live in remote locations or cannot afford transportation. In recent years, there is an increasing need to consider Decentralized Clinical Trials (DCT) as a participant-centric approach that uses new technologies and innovative procedures for interaction with participants in the comfort of their home.

CONCLUSION

This paper discusses the planning and conduct of DCTs, which can increase the quality of trials with a specific focus on rare diseases.

Heart failure symptom burden, dietary intake, and inflammation: An integrative review of the literature

Heart failure (HF) is characterized by high symptom burden including, but not limited to fatigue, dyspnea, and edema. Up to 21.5% of HF patients experience significant depressive symptoms, much higher than 7.1% in adults without HF. Diet, metabolites, and other inflammatory mechanisms have gained notable attention in recent studies for contributions to symptoms in HF. Symptoms for black adults (B/As) with HF are often influenced by lifestyle factors, which may influence their higher mortality rates; few studies address these factors. Distinguishing the links between key elements with diet, inflammation, and symptoms may bring clarity for new dietary strategies in HF clinical care. The purpose of this integrative review is to examine the existing literature regarding relationships among physiologic pathways in HF along with physical and emotional symptoms in the context of inflammation, dietary intake, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), a biomarker of inflammation, and trimethylamine-N-Oxide (TMAO). Based on available evidence, inflammation may be a key link between physical symptoms, diet, depression, TMAO, and TNF-α in persons with HF and warrants further examination to clarify pathological links to solidify evidence for better guidance with dietary modifications. The literature reviewed in this study demonstrates that more work is needed to examine dietary planning, social support, and differences between men and women in the B/A community. Results of this literature review call attention to the essential, personalized care needs related to symptom monitoring and dietary planning which is expected to decrease symptom burden in the HF population.

Health care providers' perspectives on providing end-of-life psychiatric care in cardiology and oncology hospitals: a cross-sectional questionnaire survey

BACKGROUND

Psychological distress is a major concern for patients with end-stage heart failure (HF). However, psychiatric care for patients with HF is not as organized as that for patients with cancer. Therefore, the aim of this study was to elucidate and compare the barriers faced by health care providers of cardiology and oncology hospitals in providing end-of-life psychiatric care to patients with HF and cancer, respectively.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional questionnaire survey among the health care providers of Japan. Questionnaires were mailed to physicians and nurses of 427 cardiology and 347 oncology hospitals in March 2018 to assess health care providers' perspectives. First, we compared the scores of the Palliative Care Difficulties Scale and the original scale of end-of-life psychiatric care difficulties between health care providers of cardiology and oncology hospitals. Second, we asked the health care providers to describe the barriers to providing end-of-life psychiatric care with an open-ended question and then compared the freely-provided descriptions using content analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 213 cardiology and 224 oncology health care providers responded to the questionnaire. No significant differences were found between health care providers of cardiology and oncology hospitals in the frequency of experiencing barriers to providing end-of-life psychiatric care (59.8% and 62.2%, respectively). A content analysis identified the following eight barriers: "patients' personal problems," "family members' problems," "professionals' personal problems," "communication problems between professionals and patients," "problems specific to end-of-life care," "problems specific to psychiatric care," "problems of institution or system," and "problems specific to non-cancer patients." The "problems specific to noncancer patients" was described more frequently by health care providers in cardiology hospitals than that in oncology hospitals. However, there were no significant differences in other items between the two.

CONCLUSION

Although health care providers of both cardiology and oncology hospitals faced barriers to providing end-of-life psychiatric care, those of cardiology hospitals particularly faced challenges pertaining to non-cancer patients, such as unpredictability of prognosis or insufficiency of guideline development. A system of psychiatric care, specifically for patients with HF, should be established.

Interventions on the social dimension of people with chronic heart failure: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials

AIMS

The symptom burden of patients with chronic heart failure (CHF), together with social determinants and psychosocial factors, results in limitations to maintain adequate social life and roles, participate in social events and maintain relationships. This situation's impact on health outcomes makes it of utmost importance to develop meaningful social networks for these patients. The primary objective aimed to identify randomized controlled trials that impact the social dimension of people with CHF. The secondary objectives were to analyze the methodological quality of these interventions, establish their components, and synthesize their results.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A systematic review following PRISMA guidelines was conducted in Pubmed, Scopus, Cochrane CENTRAL, PsychINFO, and CINAHL databases between 2010 and February 2022. The Revised Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials was used. The protocol was registered in PROSPERO. Eight randomized controlled trials were identified, among which two were at 'high risk of bias.' Interventions were synthesized according to the following categories: delivery format, providers and recipients, and the intervention content domains. Half of the studies showed statistical superiority in improving the intervention group's social support in people with CHF.

CONCLUSION

This review has highlighted the scarcity of interventions targeting the social dimension of people with CHF. Interventions have been heterogeneous, which limits the statistical combination of studies. Based on narrative review and vote counting, such interventions could potentially improve social support and self-care, which are important patient reported outcomes, thus warrant further research. Future studies should be co-created with patients and families to be adequately targeted.

REGISTRATION

PROSPERO CRD42021256199.

Experimental heart failure models in small animals

Heart failure (HF) is one of the most critical health and economic burdens worldwide, and its prevalence is continuously increasing. HF is a disease that occurs due to a pathological change arising from the function or structure of the heart tissue and usually progresses. Numerous experimental HF models have been created to elucidate the pathophysiological mechanisms that cause HF. An understanding of the pathophysiology of HF is essential for the development of novel efficient therapies. During the past few decades, animal models have provided new insights into the complex pathogenesis of HF. Success in the pathophysiology and treatment of HF has been achieved by using animal models of HF. The development of new in vivo models is critical for evaluating treatments such as gene therapy, mechanical devices, and new surgical approaches. However, each animal model has advantages and limitations, and none of these models is suitable for studying all aspects of HF. Therefore, the researchers have to choose an appropriate experimental model that will fully reflect HF. Despite some limitations, these animal models provided a significant advance in the etiology and pathogenesis of HF. Also, experimental HF models have led to the development of new treatments. In this review, we discussed widely used experimental HF models that continue to provide critical information for HF patients and facilitate the development of new treatment strategies.

Translation, cross-cultural adaptation, and psychometric evaluation of the Persian version of the Symptom Distress Scale (SDS) in heart failure patients

BACKGROUND

Patients with heart failure experience severe and chronic physical and psychological manifestations while the disease progresses. Assessing the degree of distress caused by manifestations of the disease in patients is the first step in designing and evaluating intervention programs to improve patients' symptoms. The aim of this study was to investigate the psychometric properties of the Persian version of the Symptom Distress Scale in HF patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study was conducted via methodological research design from March to November 2019. The translation process and cross-cultural adaptation were performed using a process recommended by the World Health Organization. The face and content validity and internal consistency were used to evaluate the validity and reliability of the instrument. The scale was evaluated by exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis in 300 patients with heart failure, and the obtained data were analyzed using SPSS-22 and AMOS-22 software.

RESULTS

The content validity of the scale was approved based on the results of the study. One-factor scale with 13 items was used in the confirmatory factor analysis, and the results showed that the instrument had high goodness-of-fit indices. Spearman correlation test for convergent validity showed a correlation between the score obtained by the Scale of Symptoms of Disease and the scores of The European Heart Failure Self-care Behavior scale (9 items) (P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION

The Persian version of the Symptom Distress Scale can be used as a valid instrument for people with heart failure due to its desirable psychometric properties.

Patient Perspectives on the Burden of Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction in a US Commercially Insured and Medicare Advantage Population: A Survey Study

Background

Patient-reported health related quality of life (HRQOL) is not routinely assessed in clinical practice. Little is known about health status outcomes reported by patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) in non-clinical trial settings.

Purpose

To better understand patient burden of HFpEF in terms of HF-specific functional and symptom status, HRQOL, healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) and costs in a US-based commercial and Medicare Advantage insured population.

Patients and methods

We conducted a cross-sectional survey of patients with HFpEF and linked their survey and administrative claims data. Consenting, eligible patients completed a survey that included the 23-item Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ-23) and the PROMIS Global Health-10 (GH-10) questionnaire, as well as clinical and demographic questions. HF medication use, HCRU and costs during the 12-month baseline period before the survey were determined from claims data. Generalized linear regression was used to assess the associations between baseline characteristics and the KCCQ-23 overall summary score.

Results

Of 598 survey respondents with survey and claims data, 54.7% were female with mean age 74.0 years. The KCCQ-23 overall summary and clinical summary scores were 64.8 and 63.0, respectively, and the GH-10 physical and mental health summary scores were 39.9 and 45.5. Factors related to lower KCCQ-23 overall summary scores were HF treatment and symptom changes during the past 4-weeks before the survey, hospital admission during the past year, low household income, high comorbidity index, and morbid obesity (BMI>40). Total all-cause healthcare costs were $38,243 during the year prior to the survey, of which 42% were HF-related.

Conclusion

Patient-reported outcome measure scores indicated impairment due to HF symptoms and physical limitations in this real-world sample of patients with HFpEF, highlighting a need to assess patient-reported outcomes as well as the clinical and economic outcomes traditionally assessed by clinicians, health systems and payers.

[Malnutrition management of hospitalized patients with diabetes/hyperglycemia and heart failure]

Introduction

Heart failure (HF) is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality among older people, making it a major public health problem. Cardiovascular diseases in general, and HF in particular, are common comorbidities in people with type 2 diabetes (DM2). The concurrence of DM2 and HF is associated with more severe clinical symptoms and signs, and poorer quality of life and prognosis. Furthermore, due to the hypercatabolic state and nutrient absorption disorders, malnutrition is present in many HF cases. This article describes the results of the expert consensus and the responses of the panelists on the nutritional management in routine clinical practice of patients with diabetes/hyperglycemia hospitalized (non-critically ill) with HF.

Comparative Analysis of Non-Coding RNA Transcriptomics in Heart Failure

Heart failure constitutes a clinical complex syndrome with different symptomatic characteristics depending on age, sex, race and ethnicity, among others, which has become a major public health issue with an increasing prevalence. One of the most interesting tools seeking to improve prevention, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of this pathology has focused on finding new molecular biomarkers since heart failure relies on deficient cardiac homeostasis, which is regulated by a strict gene expression. Therefore, currently, analyses of non-coding RNA transcriptomics have been oriented towards human samples. The present review develops a comparative study emphasizing the relevance of microRNAs, long non-coding RNAs and circular RNAs as potential biomarkers in heart failure. Significantly, further studies in this field of research are fundamental to supporting their widespread clinical use. In this sense, the various methodologies used by the authors should be standardized, including larger cohorts, homogeneity of the samples and uniformity of the bioinformatic pipelines used to reach stratification and statistical significance of the results. These basic adjustments could provide promising steps to designing novel strategies for clinical management of patients with heart failure.

A New Normality Illuminated by Past and Present! A Qualitative Study: Experiences and Challenges of Everyday Life in Patients With Advanced Heart or Lung Failure

The aim of this study was to gain insight into the phenomena of everyday life as experienced and coped with by patients living with advanced heart or lung failure. We employed a qualitative design using a phenomenological hermeneutic approach. Data derived from 10 nursing consultations in a holistic setting. Ricoeur’s theory of interpretation inspired the text analysis. The study emphasizes time (past, present, and future) as an overall everyday life theme, playing an essential role associated with improvements or poor outcomes related to physical, mental, and intersubjective challenges. Patients accepted and lived with the challenges, experiencing changes, as transition, but also coped with their new normal, which involved improvements or poor outcomes, some invisible to the community. Assumptions about everyday life changed significantly, the changes possibly essential for intersubjective relations. A reflective approach, can help patients to evolve, using knowledge from the past and present to cope with the future.

Ten Questions and Some Reflections about Palliative Care in Advanced Heart Failure Patients

Heart failure is a clinical syndrome with increasing prevalence, high morbidity and mortality. It is characterized by high symptom burden, poor quality of life and high economic costs. This implies that the heart failure (HF) patients who receive palliative care (PC) have needs similar to cancer patients, but which are often unmet. This paper analyzes the main unresolved issues regarding the relationship between HF patients and the referral to an early PC program. These issues are presented as ten questions related to which patients should be admitted to PC and at what stage of their disease. Furthermore, the barriers opposing to referral to PC, the role of cardiologists and PC physicians within the care team, the gap between the scientific societies' suggestions and the real world, the right time to promote patients' awareness and shared decision making, regarding prognosis, end of life wishes and choices, with reference also to cardiac implantable devices' deactivation, are discussed. These unresolved questions support the need to reevaluate programs and specific models in achieving equal access to palliative care interventions for HF patients, which is still mainly offered to patients with cancer.

The relationship between mutuality and contributions to self-care in family caregivers of patients with heart failure: multiple mediating effects of resilience and self-efficacy

AIMS

Previous studies have indicated a positive association between mutuality and caregiver contributions to heart failure self-care (CC-HFSC). However, little is known about the underlying mechanisms in the relationship. This study aimed to determine whether resilience and self-efficacy play multiple mediating roles in the association between mutuality and CC-HFSC.

METHODS AND RESULTS

In this cross-sectional, correlational study, a self-reported survey was conducted in 259 patient-caregiver dyads recruited from two hospitals in China using a convenience sampling method. Better mutuality (r = 0.27, P < 0.01), resilience (r = 0.23, P < 0.01), and self-efficacy (r = 0.34, P < 0.01) were correlated with greater CC-HFSC maintenance. Better mutuality (r = 0.29, P < 0.01), resilience (r = 0.20, P < 0.01), and self-efficacy (r = 0.35, P < 0.01) were correlated with greater CC-HFSC management. In multiple mediation models, self-efficacy independently [effect = 0.061, 95% confidence interval (CI) (0.024-0.119)] and resilience and self-efficacy serially [effect = 0.017, 95% CI (0.007-0.036)] mediated the association between mutuality and CC-HFSC maintenance. Meanwhile, self-efficacy independently [effect = 0.058, 95% CI (0.020-0.113)] and resilience and self-efficacy serially [effect = 0.018, 95% CI (0.007-0.038)] mediated the association between mutuality and CC-HFSC management.

CONCLUSIONS

Resilience and self-efficacy were multiple mediators in the association between mutuality and CC-HFSC. Interventions targeting the facilitation of mutuality, and then increasing resilience and self-efficacy may be beneficial for improving CC-HFSC.

Effectiveness of Motivational Interviewing on contribution to self-care, self-efficacy, and preparedness in caregivers of patients with heart failure: a secondary outcome analysis of the MOTIVATE-HF randomized controlled trial

AIMS

Caregiver characteristics and behaviours are associated with patients' and caregivers' outcomes. However, there is scarce evidence on interventions aimed at improving caregiver contribution (CC) to patient self-care, caregiver self-efficacy, and caregiver preparedness in heart failure (HF). This study aims to evaluate the effect of Motivational Interviewing (MI) on CC to patient self-care, caregiver self-efficacy, and caregiver preparedness in HF.

METHODS AND RESULTS

This is a secondary outcome analysis of MOTIVATE-HF randomized controlled trial. Caregivers of patients with HF were randomized into three arms: Arm 1 (MI for patients), Arm 2 (MI for patients and caregivers), and Arm 3 (standard care). The intervention consisted of one MI session plus three telephone contacts. Data were collected at baseline and after 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. A total of 510 patient and caregiver (median age 54 years, 76% females) dyads were enrolled, 235 caregivers and 238 patients completed the study until 12 months. Caregiver contribution to self-care maintenance and management and caregiver preparedness significantly improved over time, but without significant differences among the three arms. At 9 months, caregiver self-efficacy improved more in Arm 2 than Arm 3 [difference: 8.36, 95% confidence interval (CI) (3.13; 13.59), P = 0.001]. This improvement remained significant also at linear mixed model [β^ = 1.39, 95% CI (0.02; 2.75), P = 0.046].

CONCLUSION

Motivational Interviewing did not improve CC to patient self-care and caregiver preparedness. However, it increased caregiver self-efficacy, which is known to be a powerful mediator of CC to self-care.

REGISTRATION

Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT02894502.

Clinical Decision-Making for Heart Failure in Kosovo: A Conjoint Analysis

BACKGROUND

Heart failure represents a life-threatening progressive condition. Early diagnosis and adherence to clinical guidelines are associated with improved outcomes for patients with heart failure. However, adherence to clinical guidelines remains limited in Kosovo.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the clinical decision-making related to heart failure diagnosis by evaluating clinicians' preferences for clinical attributes.

METHOD

Conjoint analysis with 33 clinical scenarios with physicians employed in public hospitals in Kosovo.

SETTING

Two public hospitals in Kosovo that benefited from quality improvement intervention.

PARTICIPANTS

14 physicians (internists and cardiologists) in two hospitals in Kosovo.

OUTCOME MEASURES

The primary outcome was the overall effect of clinical attributes on the decision for heart failure diagnosis.

RESULTS

When considering clinical signs, the likelihood of a heart failure diagnosis increased for ages between 60 to 69 years old (RRR, 1.88; CI 95%, 1.05-3.34) and a stable heart rate (RRR, 1.93; CI 95%, 1.05-3.55) and decreased for the presence of edema (RRR, 0.23; CI 95%, 0.15-0.36), orthopnea (RRR, 0.31; CI 95%, 0.20-0.48), and unusual fatigue (RRR, 0.61; CI 95%, 0.39-0.94). When considering clinical examination findings, the likelihood for heart failure diagnosis decreased for high jugular venous pressure (RRR, 0.49; CI 95%, 0.32-0.76), pleural effusion (RRR, 0.35; CI 95%, 0.23-0.54), hearing third heart sound, (RRR, 0.50; CI 95%, 0.33-0.77), heart murmur (RRR, 0.57; CI 95%, 0.37-0.88), troponin levels (RRR, 0.59; CI 95%, 0.38-0.91), and NTproBNP levels (RRR, 0.36; CI 95%, 0.24-0.56).

CONCLUSIONS

We often found odd and wide variations of clinical signs and examination results influencing the decision to diagnose a person with heart failure. It will be important to explore and understand these results better. The study findings are important for existing quality improvement support efforts and contribute to the standardization of clinical decision-making in the public hospitals in the country. This experience and this study can provide valuable impetus for further examination of these efforts and informing policy and development efforts in the standardization of care in the country.