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Symptom clusters of heart failure.
Corrine Y Jurgens1, Debra K Moser, Rochelle Armola
1School of Nursing, Stony Brook University, HSC L2-223, Stony Brook, NY 11794-8240, USA.
Research in Nursing & Health
|August 4, 2009
Summary
Hospitalized heart failure (HF) patients experience various symptoms. Older patients had more symptom clusters, but these were less impactful, aiding in understanding HF decompensation.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Geriatrics
- Psychology
Background:
- Heart failure (HF) patients report numerous symptoms.
- Symptom changes can indicate HF decompensation.
- Patients struggle to distinguish HF symptoms from aging or comorbidities.
Purpose of the Study:
- Identify symptom number, type, and combinations in hospitalized HF patients.
- Examine relationships between symptom clusters, comorbidities, and age.
- Apply the Theory of Unpleasant Symptoms to understand symptom complexity.
Main Methods:
- Secondary analysis of a heart failure registry (N=687).
- Factor analysis of nine Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire items.
- Categorized symptoms into acute/chronic volume overload and emotional distress.
Main Results:
- Three symptom factors identified: acute/chronic volume overload, emotional distress.
- Symptom clusters were more frequent in older patients.
- Despite higher frequency, symptom clusters had less impact in older individuals.
Conclusions:
- Symptom presentation in HF is multidimensional, involving volume overload and emotional distress.
- Age influences symptom cluster frequency and impact in HF patients.
- Understanding symptom patterns is crucial for managing HF decompensation.
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