Efficacy of a supervised exercise training program on five-year readmission rates in patients with acute coronary syndrome. A randomised controlled trial / Eficacia de un programa de entrenamiento con ejercicio supervisado sobre los reingresos a los 5 años en pacientes con síndrome coronario agudo. Ensayo clínico controlado y aleatorizado

Introduction and objectives: Exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation programmes can reduce mortality but their effects on readmission rates are unclear. The primary aim was to evaluate the efficacy of a supervised exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation programme on cardiac readmissions in patients with acute coronary syndrome at five years. Methods: We conducted an open, controlled, randomized, hospital-based clinical trial. Patients were assigned either to the control group (CG) who received standard care or to the intervention group (IG) who participated in a supervised exercise programme (3h per week of supervised exercise training for 10 weeks). Patients were evaluated at 5 years. Results: Seventy-six patients [41 CG, 35 IG, mean age 59.2 (SD 10.4), 82.9% men] were included. Cardiac readmission rates at 5 years were 24% in the CG compared to 9% in the IG (p=0.068), and readmission rates for all causes were 42% in the CG and 23% in the IG (p=0.085). Emergency care for cardiac disease was required more frequently in the CG (17% vs 11%, p=0.486). IG patients performed more regular and intensive exercise (62% vs. 33%, p=0.088). In both groups there were significant deterioration in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, body mass index, waist circumference, HbAc1, triglycerides, LDL and diet, and a significant increase in HDL. Conclusions: Patients who participated in the supervised exercise training programme were readmitted less often than controls for cardiac disease and for all causes at 5 years, the reduction was clinically meaningful although not statistically significant. Control of cardiovascular risk factors deteriorated in both groups.(AU)

Introducción y objetivos: Los programas de rehabilitación cardíaca basados en ejercicio físico pueden reducir la mortalidad, pero sus efectos en los reingresos hospitalarios no son concluyentes. El objetivo principal fue evaluar la eficacia de un programa de rehabilitación cardíaca supervisado basado en ejercicio en los reingresos cardíacos en pacientes con cardiopatía isquémica a los 5 años. Métodos: Ensayo clínico aleatorizado, abierto, controlado y de ámbito hospitalario. Los pacientes se asignaron al grupo control (GC), que recibió atención estándar, o al grupo intervención (GI), que participó en un programa de ejercicio supervisado (3 h por semana durante 10 semanas). Los pacientes fueron evaluados a los 5 años. Resultados: Setenta y seis pacientes (41 GC, 35 GI, edad media 59,2 [DE 10,4], 82,9% hombres) fueron incluidos. Los reingresos cardíacos a los 5 años fueron del 24% en el GC frente al 9% en el GI (p=0,068) y los reingresos por todas las causas fueron del 42% en el GC y el 23% en el GI (p=0,085). El GC asistió más a urgencias por motivo cardíaco (17% vs 11%; p=0,486). El GI realizó más ejercicio regular e intensivo (62% vs 33%; p=0,088). En ambos grupos hubo un deterioro significativo de presión arterial sistólica y diastólica, el índice de masa corporal, el perímetro abdominal, HbAc1, los triglicéridos, LDL y dieta, y un aumento significativo de HDL. Conclusiones: Los pacientes que participaron en el programa de entrenamiento de ejercicio supervisado fueron readmitidos con menos frecuencia que los controles por enfermedad cardíaca y por todas las causas a los 5 años; la reducción fue clínicamente relevante, aunque no estadísticamente significativa. El control de los factores de riesgo cardiovascular se deterioró en ambos grupos.(AU)

Efficacy of a supervised exercise training program on five-year readmission rates in patients with acute coronary syndrome. A randomised controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation programmes can reduce mortality but their effects on readmission rates are unclear. The primary aim was to evaluate the efficacy of a supervised exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation programme on cardiac readmissions in patients with acute coronary syndrome at five years. METHODS: We conducted an open, controlled, randomized, hospital-based clinical trial. Patients were assigned either to the control group (CG) who received standard care or to the intervention group (IG) who participated in a supervised exercise programme (3h per week of supervised exercise training for 10 weeks). Patients were evaluated at 5 years. RESULTS: Seventy-six patients [41 CG, 35 IG, mean age 59.2 (SD 10.4), 82.9% men] were included. Cardiac readmission rates at 5 years were 24% in the CG compared to 9% in the IG (p=0.068), and readmission rates for all causes were 42% in the CG and 23% in the IG (p=0.085). Emergency care for cardiac disease was required more frequently in the CG (17% vs 11%, p=0.486). IG patients performed more regular and intensive exercise (62% vs. 33%, p=0.088). In both groups there were significant deterioration in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, body mass index, waist circumference, HbAc1, triglycerides, LDL and diet, and a significant increase in HDL. CONCLUSIONS: Patients who participated in the supervised exercise training programme were readmitted less often than controls for cardiac disease and for all causes at 5 years, the reduction was clinically meaningful although not statistically significant. Control of cardiovascular risk factors deteriorated in both groups.

Self-care research: How to grow the evidence base? (reprint).

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The number of studies in the area of self-care is growing and international researchers are increasingly developing self-care interventions to improve outcomes of individual patients and communities. However, growth of the evidence is still slow due to challenges with designing and testing self-care interventions. In this article we address major methodological challenges with regard to the definition of self-care, use of theory, and research design, intended to provide guidance to researchers in this field. METHOD: During the inaugural conference of the International Center for Self-Care Research held in Rome, Italy in June 2019 we identified important issues in existing self-care research. Discussion and literature review lead to eight recommendation for future self-care research. RESULTS: In preparation, begin with a theoretically sound definition of self-care. In planning the intervention, build on and extend previous studies. Use theory to develop self-care interventions and consider translational models to guide development, evaluation and implementation of complex self-care interventions. Employ a study design that fits the current phase and objectives of the research and measure self-care and related factors carefully. In reporting, describe the sample and setting sufficiently so that others can draw conclusions about generalizability and applicability to their practice and patient population. In interpretation, describe how the intervention is assumed to work (causal assumptions) and its key components. CONCLUSION: Our review of existing self-care research clearly illustrates that the recommendations we provide are needed if we are to substantially grow the evidence base supporting self-care. Embracing a core set of principles will allow us to build on each other's work. Tweetable abstract: A core set of methodological principles is needed to substantially grow the evidence base supporting self-care.

Self-care research: How to grow the evidence base?

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The number of studies in the area of self-care is growing and international researchers are increasingly developing self-care interventions to improve outcomes of individual patients and communities. However, growth of the evidence is still slow due to challenges with designing and testing self-care interventions. In this article we address major methodological challenges with regard to the definition of self-care, use of theory, and research design, intended to provide guidance to researchers in this field. METHOD: During the inaugural conference of the International Center for Self-Care Research held in Rome, Italy in June 2019 we identified important issues in existing self-care research. Discussion and literature review lead to eight recommendation for future self-care research. RESULTS: In preparation, begin with a theoretically sound definition of self-care. In planning the intervention, build on and extend previous studies. Use theory to develop self-care interventions and consider translational models to guide development, evaluation and implementation of complex self-care interventions. Employ a study design that fits the current phase and objectives of the research and measure self-care and related factors carefully. In reporting, describe the sample and setting sufficiently so that others can draw conclusions about generalizability and applicability to their practice and patient population. In interpretation, describe how the intervention is assumed to work (causal assumptions) and its key components. CONCLUSION: Our review of existing self-care research clearly illustrates that the recommendations we provide are needed if we are to substantially grow the evidence base supporting self-care. Embracing a core set of principles will allow us to build on each other's work. Tweetable abstract: A core set of methodological principles is needed to substantially grow the evidence base supporting self-care.

Self-Care Interventions That Reduce Hospital Readmissions in Patients With Heart Failure; Towards the Identification of Change Agents.

Unplanned hospital readmissions are the most important, preventable cost in heart failure (HF) health economics. Current professional guidelines recommend that patient self-care is an important means by which to reduce this burden. Patients with HF should be engaged in their care such as by detecting, monitoring, and managing their symptoms. A variety of educational and behavioural interventions have been designed and implemented by health care providers to encourage and support patient self-care. Meta-analyses support the use of self-care interventions to improve patient self-care and reduce hospital readmissions; however, efficacy is variable. The aim of this review was to explore methods to achieve greater clarity and consistency in the development and reporting of self-care interventions to enable 'change agents' to be identified. We conclude that advancement in this field requires more explicit integration and reporting on the behaviour change theories that inform the design of self-care interventions and the selection of behaviour change techniques. The systematic application of validated checklists, such as the Theory Coding Scheme and the CALO-RE taxonomy, will improve the systematic testing and refinement of interventions to enable 'change agent/s' to be identified and optimised.

A comparison of the prognostic value of BNP versus NT-proBNP after hospitalisation for heart failure.

AIMS: Concentrations of circulating B­type natriuretic peptides provide important prognostic information in heart failure (HF) patients. We directly compared the prognostic performance of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) versus N­terminal-proBNP (NT-proBNP) measurements in a large population of HF patients at hospital discharge after an admission for decompensated HF. METHODS AND RESULTS: BNP and NT-proBNP were measured in 563 stable HF patients before discharge. All patients were followed for a fixed period of 18 months. The primary endpoint was time to first major event (HF hospitalisation or death). Patients were in NYHA class II (47%) or III/IV (53%) at discharge and the mean age of the patients was 71 ± 11 years, 217 (39%) females, mean left ventricular ejection fraction was 0.32 ± 0.14 and 234 (42%) had an ischaemic aetiology of HF. During the study, 236 patients (42%) reached the primary endpoint. Multivariate odds ratios of the primary endpoint for doubling of baseline levels of BNP and NT-proBNP were 1.46 (95% CI 1.19-1.80, p < 0.001) and 1.45 (95% CI 1.18-1.78, p < 0.001), respectively. The multivariable adjusted areas under the receiver-operating characteristic curve for prediction of the primary endpoint for doubling of BNP and NT-proBNP were 0.69 and 0.68, respectively. Direct comparison of the prognostic value of BNP and NT-proBNP did not reveal significant differences. CONCLUSIONS: BNP and NT-proBNP at discharge for hospitalisation for HF are powerful, and equally strong and independent predictors of all-cause death and HF rehospitalisation.

"Not getting worse" a qualitative study of patients perceptions of treatment goals in patients with heart failure.

BACKGROUND: Knowledge of patient reported outcomes helps to provide personalized care on a patient level, optimize care on a population level, and identify the most appropriate patient reported outcomes for clinical trials. To be able to provide personalized care to patients with HF, it is important to know which treatment goals patients with HF consider the most important. This is particularly useful for interventions aimed at improving symptoms, functional status, or health-related quality of life. AIM: The aim of this study was (1) to explore which treatment goals patients with heart failure (HF) perceive as important for their treatment and (2) to identify which treatment goals take priority over other treatment goals. METHODS: The study had a qualitative design and included one focus group interview with 6 patients with HF. Data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. RESULTS: The overall theme of this study was found to be 'Not getting worse'. This theme was composed of 4 categories that described how the patients perceived the goals of treatment: to decrease symptoms, to improve physical function, to prevent readmission, and to live a normal life. None of the participants mentioned improved survival or being cured of their HF as a treatment goal. CONCLUSION: 'Not getting worse' was perceived as the treatment goal that matters to patients with HF and is in line with currently used endpoints for the evaluation of a treatment in a clinical trial. More research is necessary to develop endpoints that are consistent with the perception of patients, useful for clinical practice, and measurable.

Translation and Psychometric Evaluation of the Dutch Families Importance in Nursing Care: Nurses' Attitudes Scale Based on the Generalized Partial Credit Model.

The instrument called Families Importance in Nursing Care-Nurses' Attitudes (FINC-NA) is used to measure nurses' attitudes toward involving families in their nursing care. The aim of this study is to evaluate the FINC-NA scale in a population of Dutch nurses and add new psychometric information to existing knowledge about this instrument. Using a cross-sectional design, 1,211 nurses received an online application in 2015. Psychometric properties were based on polychoric correlations and the Generalized Partial Credit Model. A total of 597 (49%) nurses responded to the online application. Results confirmed a four-subscale structure. All response categories were utilized, although some ceiling effects occurred. Most items increase monotonically, and the majority of items discriminate well between different latent trait scores of nurses with some items providing more information than others. This study reports the psychometric properties of the Dutch language FINC-NA instrument. New insights into the construct and content of items enable the possibility of a more generic instrument that could be valid across several cultures.

Optimism and quality of life in patients with heart failure.

OBJECTIVES: Health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) of patients with heart failure (HF) is low despite the aim of HF treatment to improve HR-QoL. To date, most studies have focused on medical and physical factors in relation to HR-QoL, few data are available on the role of emotional factors such as dispositional optimism. This study examines the prevalence of optimism and pessimism in HF patients and investigates how optimism and pessimism are associated with different patient characteristics and HR-QoL. METHODS: Dispositional optimism was assessed in 86 HF patients (mean age 70 ± 9 years, 28% female, mean left ventricular ejection fraction 33%) with the Revised Life Orientation Test (LOT-R). HR-QoL was assessed with the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire and the EuroQol. RESULTS: The (mean ± SD) total score on the LOT-R was 14.6 ± 2.9 (theoretical range 0-24) and the scores on the subscales optimism and pessimism were 8.1 ± 1.9 and 5.5 ± 2.5, respectively. Higher age was related to more optimism (r = 0.22, p < 0.05), and optimism was associated with higher generic HR-QoL (B = 0.04, p < 0.05).Significance of resultsThe association found between optimism and generic HR-QoL of HF patients can lead to promising strategies to improve HF patients' HR-QoL, particularly because the literature has indicated that optimism is a modifiable condition.

Aspects of family caregiving as addressed in planned discussions between nurses, patients with chronic diseases and family caregivers: a qualitative content analysis.

BACKGROUND: Caregiving by family members of elderly with chronic conditions is currently intensifying in the context of an aging population and health care reform in the Netherlands. It is essential that nurses have attention for supporting roles of family caregivers of older patients and address family caregiving aspects on behalf of the continuity of care. This study aims to explore what aspects of family caregiving were addressed during planned discussions between nurses, patients and family caregivers in the hospital. METHODS: Qualitative descriptive research was conducted using non-participant observation and audio-recordings of planned discussions between nurses, older patients and their family caregivers as they took place in the hospital. Through purposive sampling eligible patients (≥ 65 years) with one or more chronic conditions were included. These patients were admitted to the hospital for diagnostics or due to consequences of their chronic illness. Retrospective chart review was done to obtain patient characteristics. Data were collected in November/December 2013 and April/May 2014 in four hospitals. Qualitative content analysis was performed using the inductive approach in order to gain insight into addressed aspects of family caregiving. RESULTS: A total of 62 patients (mean age (SD) 76 years (7.2), 52% male) were included in the study, resulting in 146 planned discussions (62 admission and discharge discussions and 22 family meetings). Three themes were identified regarding addressed aspects of family caregiving. Two themes referred to aspects addressing the patients' social network, and included 'social network structure' and 'social network support'. One theme referred to aspects addressing coordination of care issues involving family caregiving, referred to as 'coordination of care'. CONCLUSIONS: During discussions nurses mostly addressed practical information on the patients' social network structure. When specific family caregiving support was addressed, information was limited and nurses did not seem to explore the nature of the family support. Patients discharge and after care needs were addressed occasionally as aspects of coordination of care. Current nursing policies could be evaluated on nursing and family oriented theories. Implications for education could include mirroring study findings with nurses in a group discussion to enhance their awareness on family caregiving aspects.

Development of an international comorbidity education framework.

CONTEXT: The increasing number of people living with multiple chronic conditions in addition to an index condition has become an international healthcare priority. Health education curricula have been developed alongside single condition frameworks in health service policy and practice and need redesigning to incorporate optimal management of multiple conditions. AIM: Our aims were to evaluate current teaching and learning about comorbidity care amongst the global population of healthcare students from different disciplines and to develop an International Comorbidity Education Framework (ICEF) for incorporating comorbidity concepts into health education. METHODS: We surveyed nursing, medical and pharmacy students from England, India, Italy and Sweden to evaluate their understanding of comorbidity care. A list of core comorbidity content was constructed by an international group of higher education academics and clinicians from the same disciplines, by searching current curricula and analysing clinical frameworks and the student survey data. This list was used to develop the International Comorbidity Education Framework. RESULTS: The survey sample consisted of 917 students from England (42%), India (48%), Italy (8%) and Sweden (2%). The majority of students across all disciplines said that they lacked knowledge, training and confidence in comorbidity care and were unable to identify specific teaching on comorbidities. All student groups wanted further comorbidity training. The health education institution representatives found no specific references to comorbidity in current health education curricula. Current clinical frameworks were used to develop an agreed list of core comorbidity content and hence an International Comorbidity Education Framework. CONCLUSIONS: Based on consultation with academics and clinicians and on student feedback we developed an International Comorbidity Education Framework to promote the integration of comorbidity concepts into current healthcare curricula.

Attitudes of nurses towards family involvement in the care for patients with cardiovascular diseases.

INTRODUCTION: There is increasing evidence supporting the relationship between family support and patient outcomes. Therefore, involving families in the care of cardiovascular patients is expected to be beneficial for patients. The quality of the encounter with families highly depends on the attitudes of nurses towards the importance of families in patient care. AIM: The aim of this study was to describe the attitudes of nurses towards family involvement in patient care and to investigate the individual contributions of demographic, professional and regional background characteristics. METHOD: A survey was distributed among cardiovascular nurses attending an international conference in Norway and a national conference in Belgium. Nurses were asked to complete a questionnaire, including the Families' Importance in Nursing Care - Nurses' Attitudes scale. The study population consisted of respondents from Belgium ( n = 348) and from Scandinavian countries (Norway, Sweden and Denmark; n = 77). RESULTS: In general, nurses viewed the family as important in care. However, attitudes towards actively inviting families to take part in patient care were less positive. Higher educational level and a main practice role in research, education or management were significantly associated with more positive attitudes. Furthermore, the attitudes of respondents living in Scandinavia were more positive as compared to the attitudes of respondents living in Belgium. CONCLUSION: Education on the importance of families and active family involvement in patient care seems to be necessary in basic, undergraduate education, but also in clinical practice. More research is necessary in order to explore the cultural and regional differences in the attitudes of nurses towards the involvement of families in patient care.

Heart failure patients' future expectations and their association with disease severity, quality of life, depressive symptoms and clinical outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Although treatment of heart failure (HF) patients has improved, prognosis still remains poor. Current HF Guidelines recommend communication about prognosis with all patients. Little is known about HF patients' awareness of their shortened life expectancy. AIM: To explore HF patients' future expectations and to examine whether these expectations are associated with disease severity, quality of life, depressive symptoms and clinical outcomes. METHOD: Patients randomised to the intervention groups of the COACH study, who were at the end of HF hospitalisation, were asked about their future expectations. Patients were divided into three groups: patients expecting improvement/stabilisation, patients expecting deterioration and those not knowing what to expect. Depressive symptoms were measured by CES-D and quality of life with the Ladder of Life and RAND-36. RESULTS: Six hundred and seventy eight patients (age 70 ± 12; 41% female patients; LVEF 33% ± 15) participated in the study. Most patients (56%, N = 380) expected improvement or stabilisation, 8% (N = 55) expected deterioration and 21% (N = 144) did not know what to expect for the future. Patients who expected to deteriorate were significantly older, experienced a lower quality of life and more depressive symptoms compared with patients in the other two groups. They also had a higher mortality rate, both after 18 and 36 months, and had more HF admissions. No association with severity of the disease (NYHA-class, LVEF, BNP levels) was found. CONCLUSION: Many hospitalised HF patients are not aware of their poor prognosis. Depressive symptoms, poor quality of life, increased mortality and rehospitalisation were related to expected deterioration. Improvement of communication about prognosis with HF patients is needed in the future.

Patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction and low levels of natriuretic peptides.

AIMS: Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is common and its management remains difficult. B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels are used to diagnose heart failure, and as an entry criterion for inclusion into trials. We investigated a population of HFpEF patients who had been randomised into a study based on clinical parameters, and compared those with low BNP levels to those with elevated BNP levels. METHODS: We examined patients who had been enrolled in the Coordinating study evaluating Outcomes of Advising and Counselling in Heart Failure (COACH), with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF ≥ 40 %), and compared those with low BNP (< 100 pg/ml; n = 30) to those with elevated BNP (≥ 100 pg/ml; n = 127). Baseline characteristics, comorbidities, biomarkers, quality of life, and outcome parameters (hospitalisations and death) were compared between the groups. To validate our findings, we repeated all analyses for NT-proBNP (< 300 pg/ml and ≥ 300 pg/ml). RESULTS: Patients were similar with regard to most clinical characteristics (including age, sex, and LVEF), biomarkers, and comorbidities. In contrast, patients with a low BNP had higher body mass index levels (31 kg/m(2) vs. 27 kg/m(2); p < 0.01) and lower cardiac troponin I (9 pg/ml vs. 15 pg/ml; p = 0.02). In addition, these patients were less frequently prescribed diuretics and beta-blockers. No differences in quality of life, heart failure related symptoms and the primary and secondary outcomes were observed between these groups. These observations were confirmed for NT-proBNP. CONCLUSION: Among the patients with clinically diagnosed HFpEF, those with low BNP are strikingly similar to those with elevated BNP levels, except for BMI, which was significantly higher in these patients.

Perception of impairments by patients with heart failure.

BACKGROUND: One of the major aims in the treatment of patients with heart failure (HF) is symptom relief and an improvement in the health-related quality of life (HR-QoL). The perception of impairments due to HF may differ between patients. A knowledge of the prevalence and perceived harshness of impairments due to HF is essential in providing personalized care on a patient level, in optimizing care on a population level and in finding the most appropriate patient-reported outcome for clinical trials. AIM: The aim of this study was to explore the prevalence and perceived harshness of impairments due to HF and the relation between perceived harshness and HR-QoL in patients with HF. METHODS AND RESULTS: The prevalence of impairments due to HF was assessed using items of the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire and the degree of perceived harshness was assessed using a structured self-assessment. A total of 100 outpatients (mean±SD age 70±9 years, 71% men) from an HF outpatient clinic were included. The prevalence of impairments was between 18 and 77%. The most prevalent impairments included tiredness and impairments in physical activity. Impairments that were frequently perceived as severely harsh included tiredness (67%), dyspnoea (57%) and impairments in physical activity (55%). Corrected item-total correlation (range 0.10-0.59) showed that tiredness (r=0.54) and impairments related to resting (r=0.59) and to participation in physical (r=0.52) and social (r=0.55) activities contributed highly to the sum-score of the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire. CONCLUSION: Highly prevalent impairments are not by definition perceived as severely harsh by patients with HF and do not contribute to the overall HR-QoL except for the impairments tiredness and working around the house/yard. These insights are important in providing personalized and optimized care for patients with HF.

Constipation in specialized palliative care: factors related to constipation when applying different definitions.

CONTEXT: For patients in palliative care, constipation is primarily a result of opioid treatment. Impacts from other factors related to constipation in palliative care are rarely studied. OBJECTIVES: The aim was to identify factors related to constipation in patients in palliative care, and then to compare these factors between patients with different types of constipation and patients without constipation. METHODS: Cross-sectional data on constipation was collected with a 26-item questionnaire from 485 patients in 38 specialist palliative care units in Sweden. Three different constipation groups were used; MC ONLY, PC ONLY, and MC & PC. Logistic regression analyses were used to calculate odds ratios. RESULTS: Patients with <3 defecations/week, MC ONLY, (n = 36) had higher odds of being hospitalized, bed-restricted, in need of personal assistance for toilet visits, and of having a poor fluid intake. Patients with the perception of being constipated, PC ONLY, (n = 93) had higher odds of having poor appetite, hemorrhoids, hard stool, more opioid treatment, less laxative treatment and of being more dissatisfied with constipation information. Patients with both <3 defecations/week and a perception of being constipated, MC & PC, (n = 78) had higher odds of having cancer- disease. CONCLUSION: There were several significant factors related to constipation with higher odds than opioid- treatment, for patients in palliative care, such as; hard stool, cancer diagnosis, dissatisfaction with information, low fluid intake, hemorrhoids, bed restriction, hospitalization, and need of personal assistance for toilet visits.

To adjust and endure: a qualitative study of symptom burden in older people with multimorbidity.

CONTEXT: Older people with multimorbidity are vulnerable and often suffer from conditions that produce a multiplicity of symptoms and a reduced health-related quality of life. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to explore the experience of living with a high symptom burden from the perspective of older community-dwelling people with multi-morbidity. METHOD: A qualitative descriptive design with semi-structured interviews, including 20 community-dwelling older people with multi-morbidity and a high symptom burden. The participants were 79-89 years old with a mean of 12 symptoms per person. Data were analyzed using content analyses. RESULTS: The experience of living with a high symptom burden revealed the overall theme, "To adjust and endure" and three sub-themes. The first sub-theme was "To feel inadequate and limited". Participants reported that they no longer had the capacity or the ability to manage, and they felt limited and isolated from friends or family. The second sub-theme was "To feel dependent". This was a new and inconvenient experience; the burden they put on others caused a feeling of guilt. The final sub-theme was "To feel dejected". The strength to manage and control their conditions was gone; the only thing left to do was to sit or lie down and wait for it all to pass. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the importance of a holistic approach when taking care of older people with multi-morbidity. This approach should employ a broad symptom assessment to reveal diseases and conditions that are possible to treat or improve.

Determinants of adherence to heart failure medication: a systematic literature review.

A systematic literature review was conducted to summarize the existing evidence on presumed determinants of heart failure (HF) medication adherence. The aim was to assess the evidence and provide directions for future medication adherence interventions for HF patients. Based on a search in relevant databases and a quality assessment, eleven articles were included in the review. A best evidence synthesis was used to combine the results of presumed determinants that were found more than once in the literature. Results were classified according the World Health Organization's (WHO) multidimensional adherence model. Results demonstrated a relationship between having been institutionalized in the past (including hospitalizations and nursing home visits) and higher adherence levels. This finding is related to the healthcare system dimension of the WHO model. The presumed determinants related to the other dimensions, such as social and economic factors, condition-related, therapy-related, and patient-related factors of the multidimensional adherence model all had inconsistent evidence. However, there was also an indication that patients' educational level and the number of healthcare professionals they have visited are not related to higher adherence levels. Based on the current review, HF patients who have been institutionalized in the past are more adherent to HF medication. Many other presumed determinants were investigated, but displayed inconsistent evidence. Due to the lack of evidence, it was not possible to make recommendations for future interventions.

Health-related quality of life and anemia in hospitalized patients with heart failure.

BACKGROUND: Anemia is a serious and highly prevalent co-morbidity in chronic heart failure (HF) patients. Its influence on health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) has rarely been studied, and no data is available regarding the role it plays in hospitalized HF patients. METHODS: Baseline data from the COACH study (Coordinating study evaluating Outcomes of Advising and Counselling in Heart Failure) were used. HR-QoL was assessed by means of generic and disease-specific questionnaires. Analyses were performed using ANOVA and ANCOVA, with covariates of age, gender, eGFR, diabetes, and NYHA class. RESULTS: In total, 1013 hospitalized patients with a mean age of 71 (SD 11) years were included; 70% of these patients had no anemia (n=712), 14% had mild anemia (n=141), and 16% had moderate-to-severe anemia (n=160). Independent associations were found between anemia and physical functioning (p=0.019), anemia and role limitations due to physical functioning (p=0.002), anemia and general health (p=0.024), and anemia and global well-being (p=0.003). CONCLUSION: In addition to the burden of HF itself, anemia is an important factor which influences HR-QoL in hospitalized HF patients, and one that is most pronounced in the domain related to physical functioning and general health.