The symptom of pain with heart failure: a systematic review

Prevalence of chronic pain and chronic widespread pain among subjects with heart failure in the general population: The HUNT study

BACKGROUND

Pain in chronic heart failure (HF) is a significant but often unrecognized symptom. Characteristics of pain in subjects with HF are largely undescribed. The study aimed to address a knowledge gap in the relationship between HF and pain by investigating the prevalence of chronic pain and chronic widespread pain (CWP) among subjects with HF.

METHODS

Population data from the HUNT3 study in Norway (2006-2008, n = 50,802) was used. HF was measured by self-report. CWP was defined as having pain in both sides of the body, pain in the upper and lower limbs, and axial pain for at least 3 months in the last year. Associations between HF and CWP and HF and moderate to high pain intensity were analysed with logistic regression.

RESULTS

Among subjects with HF in the general population, the prevalence of chronic pain was 67.8%, 20.7% had CWP, and 58.8% had moderate to high intensity pain. Compared to participants with cardiovascular disease but not HF, the odds of both CWP (OR = 1.6; 95% CI: 1.3-2.0) and moderate to high intensity pain (OR = 1.3; 95% CI: 1.3-1.8) were higher among participants with HF-controlled for age, sex, body mass index, and comorbidity.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study confirmed the high prevalence of pain among HF subjects. This pain could not be explained by comorbidity or sociodemographic factors, which are relevant for clinical and research purposes. Pain management should not be restricted to cardiac-related pain but to chronic pain in general.

SIGNIFICANCE

This epidemiological study corroborates previous studies reporting a high prevalence of pain in the HF-population. We found that the relationship between HF, CWP, and pain intensity could not be explained by comorbidity or sociodemographic factors, illustrating the burden of chronic pain related to HF. Our results expand the understanding of pain in HF and highlight the need to identify and manage chronic pain among individuals with HF, as widespread pain adds to the symptom burden in individuals with HF.

The Role of Palliative Care in Cardiovascular Disease

The American Heart Association has recommended that palliative care be integrated into the care of all patients with advanced cardiac illnesses. Notwithstanding, the number of patients receiving specialist palliative intervention worldwide remains extremely small. This review examines the nature of palliative care and what is known about its delivery to patients with cardiac illness. Most of the published literature on the subject concern advanced heart failure; however, some data also exist regarding patients with heart transplantation, pulmonary hypertension, valvular disease, congenital heart disease, indwelling devices, mechanical circulatory support, and advanced coronary disease. In addition, outcome data, certification requirements, workforce challenges, barriers to implementation, and a potential caveat about palliative care will also be examined. Further work is required regarding appropriate means of implementation, quality control, and timing of intervention.

Average and Interindividual Effects to a Comprehensive Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Program

Background: To describe the average effects and the interindividual variability after a comprehensive outpatient cardiovascular rehabilitation (CCR) program using concurrent exercise training prescribed according to cardiovascular risk stratification on cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), anthropometric/body composition, quality of life and emotional health in patients of four cardiovascular disease profiles. Methods: CRF, anthropometric/body composition, quality of life, and emotional health were measured before and after a CCR and analyzed in heart valve surgery (HVS), heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), post-acute myocardial infarction (post-AMI), and in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients. Twenty, twenty-four, and thirty-two exercise sessions were prescribed according to mild, moderate, and severe baseline cardiovascular risk, respectively. In addition to concurrent exercise training, nutritional counseling, psychological support, and lifestyle education programs were performed. Results: The main outcomes by delta changes comparisons (Δ) revealed no significant differences at anthropometric/body composition as ΔBody fat decreases (HVS Δ−1.1, HFrEF Δ−1.0, post-AMI Δ−1.4, CAD Δ−1.2 kg) and ΔSkeletal muscle mass increases (HVS Δ+1.4, HFrEF Δ+0.8, post-AMI Δ+0.9, CAD Δ+0.9 kg), and CRF performance as ΔVO2peak increases (HVS Δ+4.3, HFrEF Δ+4.8, post-AMI Δ+4.1, CAD Δ+5.1 mL/kg/min) outcomes among HVS, HFrEF, post-AMI, and CAD (p > 0.05). Secondary outcomes showed significant pre-post delta changes in METs (HVS Δ+1.8, HFrEF Δ+0.7, post-AMI Δ+1.4, CAD Δ+1.4), and maximal O2pulse (HVS Δ+3.1, post-AMI Δ+2.1, CAD Δ+1.9). In addition, quality of life had a significant improvement in physical functioning (HVS Δ+17.0, HFrEF Δ+12.1, post-AMI Δ+9.8, CAD Δ+11.2), physical role (HVS Δ+28.4, HFrEF Δ+26.8, post-AMI Δ+25.6, CAD Δ+25.3), vitality (HVS Δ+18.4, HFrEF Δ+14.3, post-AMI Δ+14.2, CAD Δ+10.6) and social functioning (HVS Δ+20.4, HFrEF Δ+25.3, post-AMI Δ+20.4, CAD Δ+14.8) in all cardiovascular disease. For anxiety (HVS Δ−3.6, HFrEF Δ−2.3, post-AMI Δ−3.0, CAD Δ−3.1) and depression (HVS Δ−2.8, HFrEF Δ−3.4, post-AMI Δ−3.2, CAD Δ−2.3) significant changes were also observed. Conclusions: A CCR program that prescribes the number of exercise sessions using a cardiovascular risk stratification improves CRF, QoL, and emotional health, and the average results show a wide interindividual variability (~25% of non-responders) in this sample of four CVD profile of patients.

Prevalence of pain and its association with quality of life of patients with heart failure in a developing country: findings from a multicenter cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Heart failure (HF) is considered one of the main causes of morbidity and death among chronic diseases worldwide. Patients have increasingly reported chronic pain in long-standing heart failure as a disturbing symptom. Its unknown etiology and mechanism, in addition to its insidious progressive nature, made both the doctor and the patient not notice it until it affects the quality of life (QoL) and general health status. The primary objective of this study is to find the prevalence of pain in chronic heart failure patients and its impact on their QoL. The secondary objective is to determine the predictors of QoL in HF patients.

METHODS

A multicenter cross-sectional design was used. The European Quality of Life scale five dimensions scale and the Brief Pain Inventory were adopted to evaluate QoL and pain, respectively. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 25 was applied to present the data. The Mann-Whitney U, Kruskal-Wallis, and Cronbach alpha tests were used.

RESULTS

The final study had a total of 142 individuals. The prevalence of pain among HF patients was 84.5%. Knee pain was the main complaint among patients. Our patients' median pain severity score was 18 [5.00-25.00], while the median pain interference score was 39 [24.75-53.00]. They had a median EQ-5D score of 0.34 [0.0-0.6] and an EQ-VAS score of 50 [30-70]. Pain severity (p = 0.004 and p < 0.001, respectively) and pain interference (p < 0.001 and p = 0.001, respectively) were found to significantly associated with both QoL scores; the visual analogue scale (EQ-VAS) and EQ-5D-5L. In multivariate analysis, monthly income was the only variable significantly correlated with EQ-VAS and EQ-5D-5L, along with pain variables.

CONCLUSIONS

Pain is a common symptom among patients with HF and is significantly associated with their QoL. Low income is also highly associated with poor QoL. Definitive guidelines should be achieved to increase awareness and understanding of the importance of pain management, reaching a higher QoL level, less pain, and good adherence to HF medications.

End-of-Life Care for End-stage Heart Failure Patients

Although recent heart failure (HF) guidelines highlight integrative palliative care, including end-of-life (EOL), appropriate discussing EOL issues can be challenging due to possibility of unexpected deterioration throughout HF trajectory. Open communication and discussions with multidisciplinary team are important for setting patient and family expectations and establishing mutually agreed goals of care based firmly on the patient’s ‘human dignity’ and ‘right to self-determination.’ Especially when quality-of-life outweighs expanding quantity-of-life, transition to EOL care should be considered. Advanced care planning including resuscitation, device deactivation, site for last days, and bereavement support should focus on ensuring a good death, and be reviewed regularly.

Efforts to improve end-of-life (EOL) care have generally been focused on cancer patients, but high-quality EOL care is also important for patients with other serious medical illnesses including heart failure (HF). Recent HF guidelines offer more clinical considerations for palliative care including EOL care than ever before. Because HF patients can experience rapid, unexpected clinical deterioration or sudden death throughout the disease trajectory, choosing an appropriate time to discuss issues such as advance directives or hospice can be challenging in real clinical situations. Therefore, EOL issues should be discussed early. Conversations are important for understanding patient and family expectations and developing mutually agreed goals of care. In particular, high-quality communication with patient and family through a multidisciplinary team is necessary to define patient-centered goals of care and establish treatment based on goals. Control of symptoms such as dyspnea, pain, anxiety/depression, fatigue, nausea, anorexia, and altered mental status throughout the dying process is an important issue that is often overlooked. When quality-of-life outweighs expanding quantity-of-life, the transition to EOL care should be considered. Advanced care planning including resuscitation (i.e., do-not resuscitate order), device deactivation, site for last days and bereavement support for the family should focus on ensuring a good death and be reviewed regularly. It is essential to ensure that treatment for all HF patients incorporates discussions about the overall goals of care and individual patient preferences at both the EOL and sudden changes in health status. In this review, we focus on EOL care for end-stage HF patients.

The prognostic impact of symptom clusters in patients with heart failure: A systematic review and meta-analysis

AIM

To determine the impact of symptom clusters on clinical outcomes among heart failure patients.

DESIGN

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

DATA SOURCES

Peer-reviewed articles were searched from 12 English and Chinese language databases from inception to August 2021.

REVIEW METHODS

Narrative syntheses were first conducted to integrate symptom clusters reported in the identified studies. This was followed by meta-analysis to synthesize the evidence on the association or predictive effects of symptom clusters on clinical outcomes.

RESULTS

Twelve studies were identified. Among studies which identified highly correlated symptoms as in a cluster, meta-analysis indicated that severe congestive (r = .45, 95% CI = 0.38-0.52), weary (r = .41, 95% CI = 0.33-0.50), ischaemic (r = .29, 95% CI = 0.04-0.51) and stress-related (r = .62, 95% CI = 0.31-0.81) symptom clusters were correlated with a poorer health-related quality of life. As for studies used latent class to identified patient cohorts of similar symptom pattern, high symptom cohorts (hazard ratio = 1.86, 95% CI = 1.39-2.48) and incongruent physical and psycho-cognitive symptom cohorts was associated with a significantly higher risk (hazard ratio = 2.10, 95% CI = 1.44-3.07) of combined event rate relative to low symptom presentation.

CONCLUSIONS

This review has identified the impact of symptom clusters on clinical outcomes in heart failure patients. In addition to the classical physical symptoms highlighted in the clinical management guidelines, our findings suggested the important predictive role of psycho-cognitive and weary symptoms in determining the clinical outcomes of HF patients.

IMPACT

This review concluded the promising prospect of symptom clusters in shaping clinical outcomes of heart failure. The findings highlighted the importance of integrating care to minimize the disease impact on psycho-cognitive function and weary symptoms among this clinical cohort. The review also inform the direction on how to advance the knowledge on symptom clusters among this clinical cohort.

Back pain and heart failure in community-dwelling older adults: Findings from the Health ABC study

This study explored the association of back pain and heart failure (HF) with health outcomes among community-dwelling older adults. Older adults who completed a follow-up in the 11th year (2007-2008) of the Health, Aging, and Body Composition (Health ABC) study were included. The mean age was 83.4 ± 2.78 years. Back pain and heart failure were reported by 55.40% (n = 657) and 8.09 % (n = 96) of the total subjects (N = 1186), respectively. Regression analysis indicated that older adults with back pain reported worse depressive symptoms, fatigue, and physical performance and function compared with those without back pain (p < 0.05), and HF presence increased fatigue levels and decreased physical function (p < 0.05) among older adults with back pain. The high incidence and negative impact of back pain highlight the need to develop strategies for pain management among older adults with and without HF.

Palliative Care for People Living With Heart Disease-Does Sex Make a Difference?

The distribution of individual heart disease differs among women and men and, parallel to this, among particular age groups. Women are usually affected by cardiovascular disease at an older age than men, and as the prevalence of comorbidities (like diabetes or chronic pain syndromes) grows with age, women suffer from a higher number of symptoms (such as pain and breathlessness) than men. Women live longer, and after a husband or partner's death, they suffer from a stronger sense of loneliness, are more dependent on institutionalized care and have more unaddressed needs than men. Heart failure (HF) is a common end-stage pathway of many cardiovascular diseases and causes substantial symptom burden and suffering despite optimal cardiologic treatment. Modern, personalized medicine makes every effort, including close cooperation between disciplines, to alleviate them as efficiently as possible. Palliative Care (PC) interventions include symptom management, psychosocial and spiritual support. In complex situations they are provided by a specialized multiprofessional team, but usually the application of PC principles by the healthcare team responsible for the person is sufficient. PC should be involved in usual care to improve the quality of life of patients and their relatives as soon as appropriate needs emerge. Even at less advanced stages of disease, PC is an additional layer of support added to disease modifying management, not only at the end-of-life. The relatively scarce data suggest sex-specific differences in symptom pathophysiology, distribution and the requisite management needed for their successful alleviation. This paper summarizes the sex-related differences in PC needs and in the wide range of interventions (from medical treatment to spiritual support) that can be considered to optimally address them.

Prioritizing symptom management in the treatment of chronic heart failure

Chronic heart failure (CHF) is a chronic, progressive disease that has detrimental consequences on a patient's quality of life (QoL). In part due to requirements for market access and licensing, the assessment of current and future treatments focuses on reducing mortality and hospitalizations. Few drugs are available principally for their symptomatic effect despite the fact that most patients' symptoms persist or worsen over time and an acceptance that the survival gains of modern therapies are mitigated by poorly controlled symptoms. Additional contributors to the failure to focus on symptoms could be the result of under‐reporting of symptoms by patients and carers and a reliance on insensitive symptomatic categories in which patients frequently remain despite additional therapies. Hence, formal symptom assessment tools, such as questionnaires, can be useful prompts to encourage more fidelity and reproducibility in the assessment of symptoms. This scoping review explores for the first time the assessment options and management of common symptoms in CHF with a focus on patient‐reported outcome tools. The integration of patient‐reported outcomes for symptom assessment into the routine of a CHF clinic could improve the monitoring of disease progression and QoL, especially following changes in treatment or intervention with a targeted symptom approach expected to improve QoL and patient outcomes.

The Association Between Patient-reported Clinical Factors and 30-day Acute Care Utilization in Chronic Heart Failure

BACKGROUND

Heart failure patients have high rates of repeat acute care use. Current efforts for risk prediction often ignore postdischarge data.

OBJECTIVE

To identify postdischarge patient-reported clinical factors associated with repeat acute care use.

RESEARCH DESIGN

In a prospective cohort study that followed patients with chronic heart failure for 30 days postdischarge, for 7 days after discharge (or fewer days if patients used acute care within 7 days postdischarge), patients reported health status, heart failure symptoms, medication management, knowledge of follow-up plans, and other issues using a daily interactive automatic phone call.

SUBJECTS

A total of 156 patients who had responded to phone surveys.

MEASURES

The outcome variable was dichotomous 30-day acute care use (rehospitalization or emergency department visit). We examined the association between each patient-reported issue and the outcome, using multivariable logistic regression to adjust for confounders.

RESULTS

Patients were 63 years old (SD=12.4), with 51% African-American and 53% women. Within 30 days postdischarge, 30 (19%) patients used acute care. After adjustment, poor health status [odds ratio (OR)=3.53; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.06-11.76], pain (OR=2.44; 95% CI, 1.02-5.84), and poor appetite (OR=3.05; 95% CI, 1.13-8.23) were positively associated with 30-day acute care utilization. Among 58 reports of pain in follow-up nursing notes, 39 (67%) were noncardiac, 2 (3%) were cardiac, and 17 (29%) were indeterminate.

CONCLUSIONS

Patient-reported poor health status, pain, and poor appetite were positively associated with 30-day acute care utilization. These novel postdischarge markers require further study before incorporation into risk prediction to drive quality improvement efforts.

Old and New Drugs for Treatment of Advanced Heart Failure

BACKGROUND

Advanced heart failure (HF) is a progressive disease with high mortality and limited medical therapeutic options. Long-term mechanical circulatory support and heart transplantation remain goldstandard treatments for these patients; however, access to these therapies is limited by the advanced age and multiple comorbidities of affected patients, as well as by the limited number of organs available.

METHODS

Traditional and new drugs available for the treatment of advanced HF have been researched.

RESULTS

To date, the cornerstone for the treatment of patients with advanced HF remains water restriction, intravenous loop diuretic therapy and inotropic support. However, many patients with advanced HF experience loop diuretics resistance and alternative therapeutic strategies to overcome this problem have been developed, including sequential nephron blockade or use of the hypertonic saline solution in combination with high-doses of furosemide. As classic inotropes augment myocardial oxygen consumption, new promising drugs have been introduced, including levosimendan, istaroxime and omecamtiv mecarbil. However, pharmacological agents still remain mainly short-term or palliative options in patients with acute decompensation or excluded from mechanical therapy.

CONCLUSION

Traditional drugs, especially when administered in combination, and new medicaments represent important therapeutic options in advanced HF. However, their impact on prognosis remains unclear. Large trials are necessary to clarify their therapeutic potential and prognostic role in these fragile patients.

Pain Management in Patients with Heart Failure: A Survey of Nurses' Perception

BACKGROUND

Over 50% of patients with heart failure (HF) report suffering from pain and pain-related burdens; however, pain in HF patients has not been recognized or well treated. Few studies have comprehensively examined pain management in patients with HF from nurses' perception.

AIMS

To investigate nurses' perception of pain management in HF patients.

METHODS

Members of American Association of Heart Failure Nurses (AAHFN) were invited to participate in a cross-sectional online survey.

RESULTS

A total of 147 nurses responded and completed the survey. The majority agreed that pain in HF patients was related to anxiety, depression, fatigue, and unplanned hospitalization, and that pain should be individually assessed and managed. More than 80% thought pain management practice in HF patients should be improved, and 78.1% were interested in getting more information and believed an online education module was the most preferable approach. Lack of pain assessment tools, drug addiction, side effect, overuse, underuse, and contraindication with other medications were the main concerns regarding opioid use in pain management in HF. The gaps in pain management in HF patients included lack of knowledge of opioid use, lack of consideration and awareness of pain, no clinical guidelines for pain assessment and treatment, and complicated pain management with multiple chronic conditions.

CONCLUSIONS

The impact of pain and need for individual assessment and management of pain in HF patients were perceived by nurses; improvement in pain management practice in HF patients is needed. Concerns regarding opioid use and gaps in pain management of HF patients should be addressed.

Palliative care for people living with heart failure: European Association for Palliative Care Task Force expert position statement

Contrary to common perception, modern palliative care (PC) is applicable to all people with an incurable disease, not only cancer. PC is appropriate at every stage of disease progression, when PC needs emerge. These needs can be of physical, emotional, social, or spiritual nature. This document encourages the use of validated assessment tools to recognize such needs and ascertain efficacy of management. PC interventions should be provided alongside cardiologic management. Treating breathlessness is more effective, when cardiologic management is supported by PC interventions. Treating other symptoms like pain or depression requires predominantly PC interventions. Advance Care Planning aims to ensure that the future treatment and care the person receives is concordant with their personal values and goals, even after losing decision-making capacity. It should include also disease specific aspects, such as modification of implantable device activity at the end of life. The Whole Person Care concept describes the inseparability of the physical, emotional, and spiritual dimensions of the human being. Addressing psychological and spiritual needs, together with medical treatment, maintains personal integrity and promotes emotional healing. Most PC concerns can be addressed by the usual care team, supported by a PC specialist if needed. During dying, the persons’ needs may change dynamically and intensive PC is often required. Following the death of a person, bereavement services benefit loved ones. The authors conclude that the inclusion of PC within the regular clinical framework for people with heart failure results in a substantial improvement in quality of life as well as comfort and dignity whilst dying.

Respiratory Failure, Noninvasive Ventilation, and Symptom Burden: An Observational Study

BACKGROUND

Noninvasive ventilation (NIV) is commonly used to manage acute respiratory failure due to decompensated cardiorespiratory disease. We describe symptom burden in this population.

MEASURES

Fifty consecutive, consenting, English-speaking, cognitively intact patients, admitted to wards other than the intensive care unit in a tertiary teaching hospital and treated with NIV for hypercapnic respiratory failure, were recruited. The 14-item Condensed Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale was used to assess physical and psychological symptoms within 36 hours of commencing NIV. Breathlessness (using Borg score), pain location and intensity using a numerical rating scale, and four symptoms potentially prevalent in patients undergoing NIV (cough, sputum, gastric bloating, and dry eyes) were also assessed.

OUTCOMES

Patients reported a median of 10 symptoms (IQR 9-13). A median of five symptoms (IQR 3-7) were rated as severe. Breathlessness was the most prevalent and most distressing symptom, with participants reporting a mean maximum Borg score of 7.55 over the 24 hours before admission. Dry mouth, lack of energy, cough, sputum, difficulty sleeping, and psychological symptoms were prevalent. Pain, when reported, was of moderate intensity and contributed to distress.

CONCLUSIONS/LESSONS LEARNED

This study describes the patient-reported symptoms occurring during an episode of acute respiratory failure. Understanding the symptom profile of patients in this setting may allow clinicians to target symptom relief while simultaneously managing respiratory failure, enhancing care.

The Prevalence and Associated Distress of Physical and Psychological Symptoms in Patients With Advanced Heart Failure Attending a South African Medical Center

BACKGROUND

Despite the high prevalence of heart failure in low- and middle-income countries, evidence concerning patient-reported burden of disease in advanced heart failure is lacking.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to measure patient-reported symptom prevalence and correlates of symptom burden in patients with advanced heart failure.

METHODS

Adult patients diagnosed with New York heart Association (NYHA) stage III or IV heart failure were recruited from the emergency unit, emergency ward, cardiology ward, general medicine wards, and outpatient cardiology clinic of a public hospital in South Africa. Patients were interviewed by researchers using the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale-Short Form, a well-validated multidimensional instrument that assesses presence and distress of 32 symptoms.

RESULTS

A total of 230 patients (response, 99.1%), 90% NYHA III and 10% NYHA IV (12% newly diagnosed), with a mean age of 58 years, were included. Forty-five percent were women, 14% had completed high school, and 26% reported having no income. Mean Karnofsky Performance Status Score was 50%. Patients reported a mean of 19 symptoms. Physical symptoms with a high prevalence were shortness of breath (95.2%), feeling drowsy/tired (93.0%), and pain (91.3%). Psychological symptoms with a high prevalence were worrying (94.3%), feeling irritable (93.5%), and feeling sad (93.0%). Multivariate linear regression analyses, with total number of symptoms as dependent variable, showed no association between number of symptoms and gender, education, number of healthcare contacts in the last 3 months, years since diagnosis, or comorbidities. Increased number of symptoms was significantly associated with higher age (b = 0.054, P = .042), no income (b = -2.457, P = .013), and fewer hospitalizations in the last 12 months (b = -1.032, P = .017).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with advanced heart failure attending a medical center in South Africa experience high prevalence of symptoms and report high levels of burden associated with these symptoms. Improved compliance with national and global treatment recommendations could contribute to reduced symptom burden. Healthcare professionals should consider incorporating palliative care into the care for these patients.

Symptom burden in heart failure: assessment, impact on outcomes, and management

Evidence-based management has improved long-term survival in patients with heart failure (HF). However, an unintended consequence of increased longevity is that patients with HF are exposed to a greater symptom burden over time. In addition to classic symptoms such as dyspnea and edema, patients with HF frequently suffer additional symptoms such as pain, depression, gastrointestinal distress, and fatigue. In addition to obvious effects on quality of life, untreated symptoms increase clinical events including emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and long-term mortality in a dose-dependent fashion. Symptom management in patients with HF consists of two key components: comprehensive symptom assessment and sufficient knowledge of available approaches to alleviate the symptoms. Successful treatment addresses not just the physical but also the emotional, social, and spiritual aspects of suffering. Despite a lack of formal experience during cardiovascular training, symptom management in HF can be learned and implemented effectively by cardiology providers. Co-management with palliative medicine specialists can add significant value across the spectrum and throughout the course of HF.

Fibromyalgia has a high prevalence and impact in cardiac failure patients

Objective

Chronic cardiac failure (CCF) shares several clinical features with fibromyalgia (FM), a syndrome of increased central sensitivity and musculoskeletal pain. FM frequently coexists with other chronic illness. Musculoskeletal pain is reported in patients with CCF; however, the prevalence and impact of FM in patients with CCF is not known. This research aims to assess the prevalence and effects of concurrent FM in patients with CCF and to identify other coexisting central sensitivity syndromes.

Material and Methods

In a cross-sectional study, demographic, clinical, and functional information was gathered from participants with CCF from public and private clinics. Cardiac failure severity was rated using the New York Heart Association (NYHA) scale. FM diagnosis was determined using 2011 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria. The short-form 36 (SF-36) assessed overall health function.

Results

Of the 57 CCF participants (63.2% male, mean age 70.3 years), 22.8% (n=13) met FM diagnostic criteria. CCF patients with FM had poorer outcomes across multiple SF-36 domains (p<0.05), compared to those without, despite having comparable CCF severity. Those with FM were more likely to report other central sensitivity syndromes, especially temporomandibular joint dysfunction (mean Δ=23%, p<0.05), headache (mean Δ=28.8%, p<0.05), and irritable bladder (mean Δ=14%, p<0.05).

Conclusion

High prevalence of FM was found in patients with CCF. This was associated with increased likelihood of other comorbid central sensitivity syndromes and with poorer clinical outcomes. The recognition of coexisting FM in patients with CCF provides an important opportunity to improve health outcomes by managing FM-related symptoms, in addition to symptoms that relate specifically to CCF.

Risk Factors for All-Cause Rehospitalization Among Medicare Recipients with Heart Failure Receiving Telehomecare

OBJECTIVE

To identify potential risk factors associated with rehospitalization among Medicare recipients with heart failure (HF) receiving telehomecare.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study is a nonexperimental, cross-sectional secondary data analysis of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) mandated assessment called the Outcome and Assessment Information Set (OASIS)-C, provided by a large home care company. A total of 526 patients who received telehomecare from January 1, 2011 to August 31, 2013 were included in the analyses, which used multiple logistic regression.

RESULTS

The overall rate of rehospitalization was 36% while patients were receiving telehomecare. Moderately frail health status (p = 0.01), the presence of severe pain (p = 0.01), the presence of dermatologic problems (p = 0.03), and independence in dressing one's lower body (compared to slightly dependent [p = 0.01] or mostly dependent patient groups [p = 0.02]) were identified as risk factors for rehospitalization.

CONCLUSIONS

The risk factors identified from this study may be used to drive more effective telehomecare placements, and referrals for additional services among telehomecare patients with HF.

Pain among hospitalized older people with heart failure and their preparation to manage this symptom on discharge: a descriptive-observational study

Globally, heart failure (HF) is one of the major health issues faced by many older people. It causes significant symptom burden that requires ongoing management. This paper reports on a descriptive-observational study undertaken to: (1) describe the prevalence of pain and analgesic prescription usage in hospitalized older HF patients; (2) determine the degree to which these patients are provided with a pain self-management strategy prior to discharge; and (3) determine if the patients' pain self-management strategy has been detailed in the discharge summary. A total of 122 older HF patients were included in this study. Results indicated that moderate to severe pain (Numeric Rating Scale score ≥4) is experienced by a substantial number of older people hospitalized with HF. There is little documented evidence that older people are provided with adequate analgesic prescriptions and the instructions required to effectively manage their pain on discharge to the community.

Managing comorbidities in patients with chronic heart failure: first, do no harm

Heart failure (HF) affects approximately 5.1 million adults in the USA, with expectations of a rise to nearly 8 million adults by 2030. Patients with HF are at increased risk for morbidity/mortality, and comorbidities can further complicate care for these patients. Diabetes mellitus, chronic pain, arrhythmias, and depression are diagnoses that often coexist with HF. Medications commonly used to treat these comorbidities may induce or worsen HF symptoms, so determining appropriate drug therapy is important. Healthcare providers must understand the relationship between these medications and HF in order to improve prescribing practices to increase patient safety and reduce morbidity and mortality. This manuscript discusses the association between certain medications used to treat the aforementioned diagnoses and their relationship to HF. The purpose of this article is to provide guidance on which pharmacologic options require special consideration, increased monitoring, or complete avoidance in HF patients with diabetes mellitus, chronic pain, arrhythmias, and/or depression.

Management of Heart Failure in Patients Nearing the End of Life-There is So Much More To Do

As the population of patients living with heart failure increases, the number of patients who will die with and from heart failure increases as well. End-of-life care in patients with heart failure is an additive process, whereby therapies to treat symptoms not alleviated by guideline-based medical therapy are integrated into the care of these individuals. This review focuses on providing clinicians with a basic framework for administration of end-of-life care in patients with heart failure, specifically focusing on decision-making, symptom management and functional management.

The challenges of understanding and managing pain in the heart failure patient

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Heart failure is a leading cause of significant disability and death throughout the world. The assessment and management of pain syndromes in heart failure require specialized knowledge of the pathophysiology of pain and of heart failure. Effective treatment entails an understanding of the physical, psychological, spiritual and social aspects of the pain experience and how pharmacological interventions need to be carefully tailored in this patient population. As we intensify technology to manage the challenges of heart failure it is critical that we review as a profession this critical issue.

RECENT FINDINGS

We will review the various aspects of the pain experience for the heart failure patient, disease-specific treatment modalities and ways to incorporate existing expertise in pain management in to the care of these complex patients. Most recently the Pain Assessment, Incidence & Nature in Heart Failure trial has been completed and is currently in publication. This study was the first attempt at trying to understand the complexity of pain in the heart failure patients and will be the foundation for future work.

SUMMARY

In closing, as palliative care and hospice move further in to the care of patients with complex, chronic illnesses, it is essential that we take this foundational work and expand upon it. Recognizing that pain and suffering in the heart failure patient is multidimensional and that the physical experience of pain is multifactorial is the beginning of developing expertise and improving the quality of care delivered to these patients.

Diagnostic accuracy of point-of-care testing for acute coronary syndromes, heart failure and thromboembolic events in primary care: a cluster-randomised controlled trial

Background

Evidence of the clinical benefit of 3-in-1 point-of-care testing (POCT) for cardiac troponin T (cTnT), N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and D-dimer in cardiovascular risk stratification at primary care level for diagnosing acute coronary syndromes (ACS), heart failure (HF) and thromboembolic events (TE) is very limited. The aim of this study is to analyse the diagnostic accuracy of POCT in primary care.

Methods

Prospective multicentre controlled trial cluster-randomised to POCT-assisted diagnosis and conventional diagnosis (controls). Men and women presenting in 68 primary care practices in Zurich County (Switzerland) with chest pain or symptoms of dyspnoea or TE were consecutively included after baseline consultation and working diagnosis. A follow-up visit including confirmed diagnosis was performed to determine the accuracy of the working diagnosis, and comparison of working diagnosis accuracy between the two groups.

Results

The 218 POCT patients and 151 conventional diagnosis controls were mostly similar in characteristics, symptoms and pre-existing diagnoses, but differed in working diagnosis frequencies. However, the follow-up visit showed no statistical intergroup difference in confirmed diagnosis frequencies. Working diagnoses overall were significantly more correct in the POCT group (75.7% vs 59.6%, p = 0.002), as were the working diagnoses of ACS/HF/TE (69.8% vs 45.2%, p = 0.002). All three biomarker tests showed good sensitivity and specificity.

Conclusion

POCT confers substantial benefit in primary care by correctly diagnosing significantly more patients.

Trial registration

DRKS: DRKS00000709

Pain and heart failure: unrecognized and untreated

BACKGROUND

Although evidence exists to support the presence of pain in advanced stages of heart failure (HF), the pain experience in the early phases of this progressive disease is poorly documented, and therefore, poorly understood. The current study was conducted to: 1) examine the prevalence of pain in cohort of patients with chronic HF (New York Heart Association class I-IV); and 2) determine the relationship between pain and QOL.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Data were obtained from 300 patients (mean age 54.2+/-12.7 years; 72% male; 65% Caucasians; time since HF diagnosis 4.6+/-4.8 years). Two-thirds of the patients (67%) reported some degree of pain; the prevalence of pain increased as functional class worsened (p<.009). Differences in QOL outcomes for patients experiencing pain vs. no pain were statistically significant for physical and overall QOL. Pain accounted for 20% of the variance in QOL (p<.001) even after adjusting for age, gender, and functional class.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest pain is present in a majority of patients with HF. Given the potential deleterious effects of untreated pain on QOL in patients with HF, it is important that healthcare providers assess patients for this often-unrecognized symptom.

Caring for special populations: total pain theory in advanced heart failure: applications to research and practice

TOPIC

Total pain theory.

PURPOSE

Describe total pain theory and apply it to research and practice in advanced heart failure (HF).

SOURCE OF INFORMATION

Total pain theory provides a holistic perspective for improving care, especially at the end of life. In advanced HF, multiple domains of well-being known to influence pain perception are adversely affected by declining health and increasing frailty. A conceptual framework is suggested which addresses domains of well-being identified by total pain theory.

CONCLUSION

By applying total pain theory, providers may be more effective in mitigating the suffering of individuals with progressive, life-limiting diseases.

The relationship between self-care and health status domains in Thai patients with heart failure

BACKGROUND

Little is known about the relationship between self-care in heart failure (HF) and outcomes like health status. The purpose of this study was to describe the relationship between HF self-care and Short Form-36 (SF-36) health status domains.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A secondary analysis of cross-sectional data collected on 400 HF patients living in southern Thailand was completed using bivariate comparisons and hierarchical multiple regression modeling. Thai population norm-based SF-36 scores and Self-Care of Heart Failure Index (SCHFI) scores were used in the analysis. The sample was in older adulthood (65.7 +/- 13.8 years), a slight majority of subjects were male (52%); the majority of subjects (62%) had class III or IV HF. Each health domain was low in this sample compared to the general population. SCHFI maintenance and confidence scores were correlated significantly with each health status domain. SCHFI scores explained a significant amount of variance all domains, both in bivariate and multivariate models, except social functioning. In multivariate models, higher levels of self-care were associated with better health in certain domains, but only when both SCFHI management and confidence were high.

CONCLUSION

Improving HF self-care may be a mechanism through which future interventions can improve health in this population.

Brain injury in autonomic, emotional, and cognitive regulatory areas in patients with heart failure

BACKGROUND

Heart failure (HF) is accompanied by autonomic, emotional, and cognitive deficits, indicating brain alterations. Reduced gray matter volume and isolated white matter infarcts occur in HF, but the extent of damage is unclear. Using magnetic resonance T2 relaxometry, we evaluated the extent of injury across the entire brain in HF.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Proton-density and T2-weighted images were acquired from 13 HF (age 54.6 +/- 8.3 years; 69% male, left ventricular ejection fraction 0.28 +/- 0.07) and 49 controls (50.6 +/- 7.3 years, 59% male). Whole brain maps of T2 relaxation times were compared at each voxel between groups using analysis of covariance (covariates: age and gender). Higher T2 relaxation values, indicating injured brain areas (P < .005), emerged in sites that control autonomic, analgesic, emotional, and cognitive functions (hypothalamus, raphé magnus, cerebellar cortex, deep nuclei and vermis; temporal, parietal, prefrontal, occipital, insular, cingulate, and ventral frontal cortices; corpus callosum; anterior thalamus; caudate nuclei; anterior fornix and hippocampus). No brain areas showed higher T2 values in control vs. HF subjects.

CONCLUSIONS

Brain structural injury emerged in areas involved in autonomic, pain, mood, language, and cognitive function in HF patients. Comorbid conditions accompanying HF may result from neural injury associated with the syndrome.

Pain and quality of life in hospitalized patients with heart failure

The pain experience of patients with heart failure (HF) and its impact on their quality of life (QOL) has not been described in sufficient detail. This study sampled patients hospitalized with HF to describe the prevalence and severity of bodily pain; evaluate differences in bodily pain related to selected demographic and disease-specific characteristics; and evaluate the effect of selected demographic, disease-specific characteristics, bodily pain, and mental health on QOL. Two items from the Medical Outcomes Study--Short Form (SF-36) were used to measure pain, and one subscale of the SF-36 was used to evaluate mental health. The Minnesota Living With Heart Failure Questionnaire was used to measure QOL. Patients with HF (n=93) had a mean age of 75 years, were predominantly male (65%), and lived alone (47.3%). Lung diseases and diabetes were the most common comorbidities; 58% were categorized as New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class III, whereas 58% of the sample was diagnosed with HF in the past four years. Of note, 85% of the patients reported pain and 42.5% said that it was in the severe or very severe range. No demographic variables were associated with pain, whereas a higher number of chronic conditions were associated with pain. SF-36 mental health and pain scores, as well as NYHA class, explained 34.1% of the variance in QOL in patients with HF. These data suggest that pain is highly prevalent and has a significant impact on the QOL of patients with HF. However, additional research is warranted to determine the specific causes and characteristics of pain in these patients.

Symptoms, depression, and quality of life in patients with heart failure

BACKGROUND

Little is known about symptoms and their burden in outpatients with chronic heart failure. Diverse symptoms may be associated with poor heart failure-related quality of life, and depression may be related to increased symptoms.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The number of symptoms and symptom distress (physical symptoms on the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale-Short Form), depression (Geriatric Depression Scale-Short Form), and heart failure-related quality of life (Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire) were measured cross-sectionally in 60 patients with heart failure from two outpatient cardiology clinics. Patients experienced a mean of nine symptoms in the previous week. More than half reported shortness of breath, lack of energy, pain, feeling drowsy, or dry mouth. In unadjusted analyses, more severe depression was associated with a greater number of symptoms (r = 0.51, P < .0001) and greater overall symptom distress (r = 0.58, P < .0001). For each additional depression symptom, the number of symptoms reported increased by 0.6 after adjustment for age, race, and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (P = .01). The number of symptoms accounted for 32% of the variance in quality of life (P < .0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with heart failure report a large number of distressing symptoms. Depression in patients with heart failure is associated with a greater number of symptoms, which in turn is associated with a decrease in heart failure-related quality of life. Treatment of depression and the diverse symptoms reported by patients with heart failure might significantly improve quality of life.

The symptom of pain in individuals recently hospitalized for heart failure

The symptom of pain is not typically associated with heart failure. Yet, emerging evidence suggests that pain is an important issue for this population.

OBJECTIVES

(1) To determine whether pain was reported by a cohort of individuals with heart failure at the time of discharge from hospital, at 2 and 6 weeks postdischarge; (2) To examine the profile of individuals who reported pain at discharge and to determine if there were differences from individuals who did not report pain; (3) To determine whether there was a difference in health-related quality of life between reported pain and no pain groups.

METHODS

This study was part of a larger randomized controlled trial with a 3-month follow-up. Data were obtained from 169 individuals diagnosed with heart failure who completed the first 6 weeks of the follow-up period.

RESULTS

At time of discharge, 68% of the cohort reported pain. Both frequency and severity of pain fluctuated throughout the study for the entire cohort. There were no sociodemographic characteristics that distinguished those who reported pain from those who did not report pain. Differences in health-related quality of life were found between the reported pain and no pain groups at discharge and week 2. Depression, worry, feeling a loss of control over one's life, and feeling as if one was a burden to family were significantly more prevalent in individuals who reported pain. Differences were also found in self-rated health status, and number of prescription medications taken daily. Throughout the 6 weeks, 63 individuals (37%) consistently reported pain and 23 (14%) never reported pain.

CONCLUSION

Pain was a concern for this cohort of individuals diagnosed with heart failure and was noted to impact their health-related quality of life. Further research is needed into the nature of the pain and the role of pain in self-management once patients are discharged home.

[Terminal heart failure]

Heart failure (HF) is a cardiovascular disease with a permanent increase in prevalence, incidence and mortality. Current optimal therapies for HF are effective only for slowing, but not stopping, its progression. HF-related mortality is high, even at the time of the disease onset. Approximately 40% of HF-attributable deaths will be related to disease progression - however, its course is difficult to predict and therefore identifying patients experiencing the terminal stage of the disease is not correctly done. Most patients and their relatives do not identify HF as a progressive, terminal disease, and this perception also stands among health professionals - in consequence, end-stage HF patients often undergo active treatment procedures, event near the occurrence of death, although its implementation will be occasionally futile. Efforts should be undertaken by all health professionals to improve the identification and management of HF patients in the terminal stage of their disease.