Related Experiment Videos
Self-assessed symptoms in chronic heart failure--important information for clinical management
Inger Ekman1, Ewa Kjörk, Bert Andersson
1Institute of Health and Care Sciences, The Sahlgrenska Academy at Göteborg University, Department of Cardiology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Box 457, SE 405 30 Göteborg, Sweden. inger.ekman@fhs.gu.se
Aim:
To compare the patients' self-assessment of the severity of their symptoms with a physicians assessment and to evaluate the ability of self-assessed symptoms and ejection fraction (EF) to predict long-term survival in heart failure patients.
Method:
Patients (n=332) evaluated symptoms using a self-administered functional classification scale (Specific Activity Scale, SAS), which is equivalent to the NYHA scale. EF and NYHA functional class was also recorded. All patients were followed over a 3-year period.
Results:
Approximately 50% of patients classified themselves into SAS class I. In contrast, the cardiologists classified only 9% of the patients as NYHA class I. In patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction (EF
Conclusion:
Patients' self-assessed symptoms and NYHA classification are not coherent. Left ventricular EF is of less importance in comparison with symptoms in chronic heart failure. Patients reporting less severe symptoms had a favourable 3-year prognosis, regardless of EF.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Heart Failure VII: Nursing Interventions
01:30Heart Failure IV: Classification and Diagnostic Evaluation
01:26Heart Failure III: Clinical Manifestations
01:29Cardiomyopathy VI: Nursing Management
01:23Assessment of the Cardiovascular System I: Subjective Data
Initial Enquiry
Ask the patient about their primary concern and thoroughly explore all reported symptoms.
Medical History
Investigate past illnesses affecting the cardiovascular system, such as angina, anemia, rheumatic fever, congenital heart disease, stroke, thrombophlebitis, dysrhythmias, varicosities
Inquire about symptoms...
01:22Heart Failure VI: Adjunct Therapies