Self-care behaviours of patients with left ventricular assist devices in Israel: changes during the COVID-19 pandemic.

AIMS: Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) support the hearts of patients with advanced heart failure. Following LVAD implantation, patients face a complex regimen of self-care behaviours including self-care maintenance, self-care monitoring and self-care management. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, symptoms of anxiety and depression may have interfered with their self-care. Currently, little is known on how specific self-care behaviours of LVAD-implanted patients changed during the COVID-19 pandemic. We aim to describe the changes in self-care behaviours among patients with an implanted LVAD in Israel during the COVID-19 pandemic and explore the factors related to self-care behaviour change. METHODS: A prospective observational cross-sectional study design. A convenience sample of 27 Israeli LVAD-implanted patients (mean age 62.4 ± 9, 86% male, 78.6% living with a partner) completed the LVAD Self-Care Behaviour Scale (1 = never to 5 = always) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (0 = not at all to 3 = most of the time). Data were collected before and after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in Israel. Statistical analyses included paired t-tests, Pearson's correlations, and one-way repeated measures ANOVAs. RESULTS: During the COVID-19 pandemic, a significant decrease was found in patients' adherence to checking and recording their LVAD speed, flow, power and PI (Pulsatility Index) (P = 0.05), checking their INR (P = 0.01), and daily weighing (P < 0.01). The prevalence of some behaviours (e.g. regularly exercising) increased in some patients and decreased in others. Patients living without a partner worsened their adherence to some of the self-care behaviours (e.g. taking medicines as prescribed), compared with those living with a partner (Mb  = 5.0 ± 0 and Md  = 5.0 ± 0, delta = 0 vs. Mb  = 5.0 ± 0 and Md  = 4.6 ± 0.9, delta = -0.4, respectively; F = 4.9, P = 0.04). Women, and not men, tended to improve their adherence to the self-care behaviour such as avoiding kinking, pulling, or moving the LVAD driveline at the exit site (Mb  = 4.0 ± 1.0 and Md  = 5.0 ± 0, delta = 1.0 vs. Mb  = 4.5 ± 0.9 and Md  = 4.4 ± 1.2, delta = -0.1, F = 4.7, P = 0.04, respectively). In total, 41% (11) patients reported neither anxiety nor depression, 11% (3) reported anxiety, 15% (4) reported depression, and 44% (12) reported both anxiety and depression. No associations between anxiety and/or depression and self-care behaviours were found. CONCLUSIONS: Priorities in self-care behaviours among patients with implanted LVAD changed after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Factors that assisted with adherence to self-care behaviours included living with a partner and being female. The current results may guide further research on identifying behaviours that are at risk of not being maintained during a time of emergency.

The perceived effects of COVID-19 while living with a chronic illness.

INTRODUCTION: A diagnosis of chronic illness posed a serious threat to people during the recent COVID-19 pandemic. People with chronic illnesses were faced with increased mortality and reduced access to healthcare. Self-care is the process of maintaining health and managing a chronic illness. Nurses working in specialist services provide healthcare education to people with chronic illnesses. Access to these nurses was decreased during periods of the COVID-19 virus escalation due to the reconfiguration of services and redeployment of nurses. The purpose of the research was to learn from the experiences of people with a chronic illnesses in self-care behaviors and accessing altered healthcare services to inform future practices. DESIGN: A population survey design. METHODS: A mixed methods survey was designed, combining validated questionnaires and scales with open-ended questions. A convenience sample was utilized via using social media platforms. Data analysis included descriptive and inferential statistics. Content analysis was used to analyze open-ended responses. RESULTS: There were 147 responses, with approximately half reporting no changes in face-to-face healthcare contact, 41% reporting decreased contacts and 12% increased contacts. Non-face-to-face contacts were reduced by almost 9%, did not change by almost 60%, while 33% indicated an increase. Participants reported mixed perceptions in contact with healthcare providers during restrictions. In the Patient Assessment of Chronic Illness Care and the Self-Care of Chronic Illness scales, participants scored statistically lower scores than in previous studies. Participants indicated that public health restrictions negatively impacted their confidence, created challenges with re-engaging and that access to care was more difficult. CONCLUSION: This research highlights the importance of providing continued support to people with chronic illness irrespective of other challenges to healthcare services. A structured approach to virtual self-care education is required. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This research concluded that the experience of access to one healthcare professional as opposed to diverse multidisciplinary input was similar for a number of chronic illnesses groups of people during the COVID-19 pandemic. There was an altered dynamic of virtual contacts with healthcare providers and a lack of confidence interpreting what monitoring was required by people with a chronic illnesses due to a lack of preparedness for virtual healthcare delivery.

Self-care in migrants with type 2 diabetes, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

INTRODUCTION: Type 2 diabetes is increasing globally and particularly affects vulnerable groups in society, such as migrants. Research shows that type 2 diabetes is a risk factor for severe illness when infected with COVID-19. Diabetes-related complications can be prevented with good glycaemic control. In addition, good glycaemic control has been shown to be an important cornerstone for preventing severe illness in individuals infected with COVID-19. In order to maintain good glycaemic control, self-care is needed. The purpose of this article is to describe self-care maintenance and possible changes in self-care maintenance and to explore factors related to unchanged self-care maintenance in migrant patients with type 2 diabetes during the COVID-19 pandemic. The second aim is to describe well-being, social support, and the need for support from healthcare services during the COVID-19 pandemic in migrant patients with type 2 diabetes. DESIGN/METHOD: A triangulation design with cross-sectional data collection was used. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected and interpreted together in a triangulation design. Patients were selected by a diabetes nurse from a computer system at a health center in south-eastern Sweden and invited to participate in the study. A questionnaire was translated into the languages most commonly used at the clinic and sent out to 332 migrant patients who had been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and treated in primary care. This questionnaire assessed self-care maintenance for diabetes (questions inspired by the Self-Care of Diabetes Inventory), with questions added to every item to assess changes during the pandemic. When changes occurred, we asked the participants to elaborate. Open-ended questions asked the participants how they would like to receive information when there are changes in their healthcare. Descriptive statistical analyses were used for the quantitative data and qualitative data was analyzed using a directed approach to content analysis. RESULTS: In total, 79 participants answered the questionnaire (mean age 69 ± 11, 51% male, 47% born in the Middle East). Of these, 76% stated a change in self-care. More than half (58%) stated changes in maintaining an active lifestyle, 40% had changed their physical exercise, and 38% had changed their behavior to avoid getting sick. Participants said that this change was due to staying at home or canceling social activities because they feared meeting people during the pandemic. Others were more physically active than before on a regular basis during the pandemic due to taking walks to get fit, as a precaution related to COVID-19, and having greater awareness about how to avoid getting sick. Approximately one-quarter of the participants experienced a change in contact with healthcare due to poorer access to care, with fewer doctors' appointments and care being postponed during the pandemic. More than half (58%) would like to receive information about healthcare changes by a letter in the regular mail. Social support had changed for 35% of the participants, with less support from family and friends due to the risk of being infected with COVID-19. CONCLUSION: The COVID-19 pandemic led to societal restrictions that changed the way of life for many individuals. Migrant patients with type 2 diabetes, who are already a vulnerable group regarding self-care, had difficulties in maintaining good living habits during the pandemic. During crises such as COVID-19, support with self-care, such as closer contact with healthcare providers, is vital. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Knowledge about how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected migrants with type 2 diabetes can be used to support healthcare providers in identifying individuals who are at high risk of suffering from the consequences of their diabetes associated with the pandemic.

Exergaming in patients with a left ventricular assist device: a feasibility study.

AIMS: Exercise games (exergames) have been recently proposed as a mode of facilitating physical activity in patients with chronic diseases. Although patients supported with left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) benefit from physical activity, specific LVAD-related issues hinder their ability to exercise properly. The objective of this study was to assess the feasibility and safety of exergaming in LVAD-supported patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: Eleven LVAD-supported patients were enrolled in a 4 week exergaming programme using Nintendo Wii console with five sport games. Patients were instructed to play for 30 min a day, 5 days a week. Data on exercise capacity and exergaming were collected by using the 6 min walk test (6MWT) and a daily self-report diary, respectively. Feasibility of using the console and its safety was assessed by a semi-structured patient interview. Quality of life was assessed by the Minnesota Living with Heart failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ) and the Cantril's Ladder of Life. Safety was assessed by patient's report in interview and diary. The study group consisted of 10 male patients and 1 female patient, mean age of 67 ± 7 years, of whom 10 were supported with the HeartMate 3 LVAD for a median of 10 (interquartile range 3, 21) months. Baseline exercise capacity assessed by the 6MWT ranged from 240 to 570 m (mean 448 ± 112). After 4 weeks of exergaming, 6MWT distance increased from a mean of 448 ± 112 (evaluated in six patients) to 472 ± 113 m (P = 0.023). Patients' Cantril's Ladder of Life score improved numerically from an average of 6.13 to 7.67, as did their MLHFQ score from 45.9 ± 27 to 38.7 ± 18, with higher and lower scores, respectively, reflecting higher quality of life. No specific LVAD-related safety issues regarding exergaming were reported. CONCLUSIONS: Exergaming was found to be a safe and feasible mode for encouraging physical activity in LVAD-supported patients and carries a potential for improving exercise capacity and quality of life in these patients. Larger scale studies are warranted to further investigate the effect of exergaming in this patient population.

Perceptions of changes in practice patterns and patient care among heart failure nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: The Coronavirus (COVID-19) had a profound impact on the delivery of care in both hospital and outpatient settings across the United States. Patients with heart failure (HF) and healthcare providers had to abruptly adapt. OBJECTIVE: To describe how the COVID-19 pandemic affected practice patterns of HF nurses. METHODS: Practicing HF nurses completed a cross-sectional, anonymous, web-based survey of perceptions of HF practice. Analyses involved descriptive and comparative statistics. RESULTS: Of 171 nurses who completed surveys, outpatient HF visits decreased and 63.2% added telehealth visits. Despite spending about 29 min educating patients during visits, 27.5% of nurses perceived that the pandemic decreased patients' abilities to provide optimal self-care. Nurses reported decreased ability to collect objective data (62.4%; n = 78), although subjective assessment stayed the same (41.6%; n = 52). CONCLUSION: Nurses' practice patterns provided insight into patient care changes made during COVID-19. Most core components of HF management were retained, but methods of delivery during the pandemic differed.

COVID-19 vaccination in patients with heart failure: a position paper of the Heart Failure Association of the European Society of Cardiology.

Patients with heart failure (HF) who contract SARS-CoV-2 infection are at a higher risk of cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Regardless of therapeutic attempts in COVID-19, vaccination remains the most promising global approach at present for controlling this disease. There are several concerns and misconceptions regarding the clinical indications, optimal mode of delivery, safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines for patients with HF. This document provides guidance to all healthcare professionals regarding the implementation of a COVID-19 vaccination scheme in patients with HF. COVID-19 vaccination is indicated in all patients with HF, including those who are immunocompromised (e.g. after heart transplantation receiving immunosuppressive therapy) and with frailty syndrome. It is preferable to vaccinate against COVID-19 patients with HF in an optimal clinical state, which would include clinical stability, adequate hydration and nutrition, optimized treatment of HF and other comorbidities (including iron deficiency), but corrective measures should not be allowed to delay vaccination. Patients with HF who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 need to continue precautionary measures, including the use of facemasks, hand hygiene and social distancing. Knowledge on strategies preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection (including the COVID-19 vaccination) should be included in the comprehensive educational programmes delivered to patients with HF.

Delivering healthcare remotely to cardiovascular patients during COVID-19 : A rapid review of the evidence.

BACKGROUND: Although attention is focused on addressing the acute situation created by the COVID-19 illness, it is imperative to continue our efforts to prevent cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, particularly during a period of prolonged social isolation which may limit physical activity, adversely affect mental health and reduce access to usual care. One option may be to deliver healthcare interventions remotely through digital healthcare solutions. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to bring together the evidence for remote healthcare during a quarantine situation period to support people living with cardiovascular disease during COVID-19 isolation. METHODS: The PubMed, CINAHL and Google Scholar were searched using telehealth OR digital health OR mHealth OR eHealth OR mobile apps AND COVID-19 OR quarantine search terms. We also searched for literature relating to cardiovascular disease AND quarantine. RESULTS: The literature search identified 45 potentially relevant publications, out of which nine articles were included. Three overarching themes emerged from this review: (1) preparing the workforce and ensuring reimbursement for remote healthcare, (2) supporting mental and physical health and (3) supporting usual care. CONCLUSION: To support people living with cardiovascular disease during COVID-19 isolation and to mitigate the effects of quarantine and adverse effect on mental and physical well-being, we should offer remote healthcare and provide access to their usual care.