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Identifying a relationship between physical frailty and heart failure symptoms
Denfeld, Quin E. Winters-Stone, Kerri Mudd, James O. Hiatt, Shirin O. Lee, Christopher S.
Denfeld, Quin E.
Winters-Stone, Kerri
Mudd, James O.
Hiatt, Shirin O.
Lee, Christopher S.
Abstract
Background:
Heart failure (HF) is a complex clinical syndrome associated with significant symptom burden; however, our understanding of the relationship between symptoms and physical frailty in HF is limited.
Objective:
The aim of this study was to quantify associations between symptoms and physical frailty in adults with HF.
Methods:
A sample of adults with symptomatic HF were enrolled in a cross-sectional study. Physical symptoms were measured with the HF Somatic Perception Scale–Dyspnea subscale, the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, and the Brief Pain Inventory short form. Affective symptoms were measured with the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and the Brief Symptom Inventory–Anxiety scale. Physical frailty was assessed according to the Frailty Phenotype Criteria: shrinking, weakness, slowness, physical exhaustion, and low physical activity. Comparative statistics and generalized linear modeling were used to quantify associations between symptoms and physical frailty, controlling for Seattle HF Model projected 1-year survival.
Results:
The mean age of the sample (n = 49) was 57.4 ± 9.7 years, 67% were male, 92% had New York Heart Association class III/IV HF, and 67% had nonischemic HF. Physically frail participants had more than twice the level of dyspnea (P < .001), 75% worse wake disturbances (P < .001), and 76% worse depressive symptoms (P = .003) compared with those who were not physically frail. There were no differences in pain or anxiety.
Conclusions:
Physically frail adults with HF have considerably worse dyspnea, wake disturbances, and depression. Targeting physical frailty may help identify and improve physical and affective symptoms in HF.
Keywords
heart failure, hysical frailty, symptoms
Date
2018
Type
Journal article
Journal
Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing
Book
Volume
33
Issue
1
Page Range
1-7
Article Number
ACU Department
Faculty of Health Sciences
Collections
Relation URI
Source URL
Event URL
Open Access Status
License
All rights reserved
File Access
Controlled