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Published on: July 18, 2014
Pain and heart failure: unrecognized and untreated
Lorraine S Evangelista1, Erin Sackett, Kathleen Dracup
1School of Nursing, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095-6918, USA. levangel@ucla.edu
European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing
|January 20, 2009
Summary
Pain is common in heart failure (HF) patients, affecting quality of life (QOL). Early assessment of pain in HF is crucial for better patient outcomes and improved QOL.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Pain Management
- Quality of Life Research
Background:
- Pain is under-recognized in early-stage heart failure (HF).
- Understanding pain prevalence and its impact on quality of life (QOL) in HF is limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of pain in patients with chronic heart failure (NYHA class I-IV).
- To investigate the relationship between pain and QOL in heart failure patients.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study of 300 heart failure patients.
- Data collected on pain presence, severity, and QOL outcomes.
- Statistical analysis to determine pain prevalence and its association with QOL.
Main Results:
- 67% of heart failure patients reported pain.
- Pain prevalence increased with worsening functional class (p<.009).
- Pain significantly impacted physical and overall QOL, accounting for 20% of variance (p<.001).
Conclusions:
- Pain is a prevalent symptom in a majority of heart failure patients.
- Untreated pain negatively affects QOL in heart failure.
- Healthcare providers should routinely assess for pain in heart failure patients.
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