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A Pacing-Controlled Procedure for the Assessment of Heart Rate-Dependent Diastolic Functions in Murine Heart Failure Models
Published on: July 21, 2023
Symptoms in heart failure correlate poorly with objective haemodynamic parameters
M Guglin1, T Patel, N Darbinyan
1Department of Cardiology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33606, USA. mguglin@gmail.com
International Journal of Clinical Practice
|November 21, 2012
Summary
In heart failure (HF), patient symptoms like breathlessness and fatigue show weak links to objective measures. Other factors likely influence how HF patients perceive their symptoms.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Clinical Research
Background:
- Heart failure (HF) is common, yet the relationship between patient-reported symptoms and objective clinical data remains poorly understood.
- Objective assessment of HF symptoms is crucial for effective patient management and treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate correlations between patient symptoms (dyspnoea, orthopnoea, fatigue, GI discomfort) and objective data in heart failure.
- To evaluate associations with hemodynamic, echocardiographic, and laboratory parameters.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of the ESCAPE trial dataset.
- Symptoms and Minnesota Living with Heart Failure (MLHF) scores were graded over time.
- Data included invasive pressures, ejection fraction, and laboratory values.
Main Results:
- Weak correlations were found between orthopnoea, dyspnoea, and fatigue with pulmonary artery pressures and certain lab values (e.g., creatinine, hemoglobin).
- Abdominal discomfort showed no correlation with symptoms.
- No significant correlations were observed between symptoms, NYHA class, or MLHF scores and various objective measures including cardiac function, biomarkers (BNP), or stress test results.
Conclusions:
- The correlation between subjective HF symptoms and objective clinical parameters is generally weak.
- Factors beyond objective measurements likely play a significant role in symptom perception in heart failure patients.
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