Patient Activation in Acute Decompensated Heart Failure

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Patient Health Management
• Health Outcomes Research

Background:

• Patient activation, defined as knowledge, skills, and confidence in managing health, is associated with improved patient behaviors and outcomes.
• The role of patient activation in individuals with heart failure remains largely unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify the level of patient activation among individuals hospitalized with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF).
• To investigate the association between patient activation and in-hospital and early postdischarge outcomes in ADHF patients.

Main Methods:

• Prospective recruitment of 302 residents hospitalized with ADHF between January 2014 and July 2015.
• Utilized the Patient Activation Measure (PAM) questionnaire to assess patient activation levels.

Main Results:

• Lower patient activation was correlated with older age, lower education, decreased patient satisfaction, and poorer health literacy.
• Patients with lower activation were more likely to be discharged to skilled nursing facilities and experienced higher 30-day mortality.
• No significant difference in 30-day readmission rates was observed based on activation levels.

Conclusions:

• Lower patient activation in ADHF patients is linked to reduced satisfaction, poorer health literacy, increased need for skilled care, and elevated early postdischarge mortality risk.
• Patient activation is a measurable factor that can assist clinicians in identifying high-risk ADHF patients.