Relationship between functional capacity, performance and symptoms in hospitalized patients with heart failure.

OBJECTIVES: to evaluate the prevalence of symptoms in heart failure patients and to investigate the relationship between symptoms, functional capacity and performance. METHODS: cross-sectional study, developed at a hospital specializing in cardiology. The sample (n=170) consisted of patients with heart failure, assessed by means of a sociodemographic form, New York Heart Association Functional Class, Edmonton Symptom Rating Scale and Karnofsky Physical Performance Scale. Analyzes were performed using Spearman's Correlation and Pearson's Chi-Square test. RESULTS: dyspnea, fatigue and edema were the main symptoms that led to the search for health services. During hospitalization, the main symptoms were anxiety, sleep disturbance and sadness. Weak negative correlations were observed between functionality, functional class, and symptom overload. CONCLUSIONS: the prevalence of symptoms was high and changed throughout the hospitalization period. Patients with poorer functional capacity and poorer performance had greater symptom overload.

Relationship between functional capacity, performance and symptoms in hospitalized patients with heart failure / Relación entre capacidad funcional, rendimiento y síntomas en pacientes hospitalizados con insuficiencia cardíaca / Relação entre capacidade funcional, desempenho e sintomas em pacientes internados com insuficiência cardíaca

ABSTRACT Objectives: to evaluate the prevalence of symptoms in heart failure patients and to investigate the relationship between symptoms, functional capacity and performance. Methods: cross-sectional study, developed at a hospital specializing in cardiology. The sample (n=170) consisted of patients with heart failure, assessed by means of a sociodemographic form, New York Heart Association Functional Class, Edmonton Symptom Rating Scale and Karnofsky Physical Performance Scale. Analyzes were performed using Spearman's Correlation and Pearson's Chi-Square test. Results: dyspnea, fatigue and edema were the main symptoms that led to the search for health services. During hospitalization, the main symptoms were anxiety, sleep disturbance and sadness. Weak negative correlations were observed between functionality, functional class, and symptom overload. Conclusions: the prevalence of symptoms was high and changed throughout the hospitalization period. Patients with poorer functional capacity and poorer performance had greater symptom overload.

RESUMEN Objetivos: evaluar la prevalencia de síntomas en pacientes con insuficiencia cardíaca e investigar la relación entre los síntomas, la capacidad funcional y el rendimiento. Métodos: estudio transversal, desarrollado en un hospital especializado en cardiología. La muestra (n=170) consistió en pacientes con insuficiencia cardíaca, evaluados mediante una forma sociodemográfica, New York Heart Association Functional Class, Edmonton Symptom Rating Scale y Karnofsky Physical Performance Scale. Los análisis se realizaron utilizando la Correlación de Spearman y la prueba de Chi-cuadrado de Pearson. Resultados: disnea, fatiga y edema fueron los principales síntomas que llevaron a la búsqueda de servicios de salud. Durante la hospitalización, los síntomas principales fueron ansiedad, trastornos del sueño y tristeza. Se observaron correlaciones negativas débiles entre funcionalidad, clase funcional y sobrecarga de síntomas. Conclusiones: la prevalencia de síntomas fue alta y cambió a lo largo del período de hospitalización. Los pacientes con peor capacidad funcional y peor rendimiento tuvieron una mayor sobrecarga de síntomas.

RESUMO Objetivos: avaliar a prevalência de sintomas em pacientes com insuficiência cardíaca e investigar a relação entre sintomas, capacidade funcional e desempenho. Métodos: estudo transversal, desenvolvido em hospital especializado em cardiologia. A amostra (n=170) foi composta por pacientes com insuficiência cardíaca, avaliados por meio de formulário sociodemográfico, Classe Funcional da New York Heart Association, Escala de Avaliação de Sintomas de Edmonton e Escala de Desempenho Físico de Karnofsky. Foram feitas análises através da Correlação Spearman e teste Chi-Quadrado de Pearson. Resultados: dispneia, fadiga e edema foram os principais sintomas que levaram à busca pelo serviço de saúde. Durante a internação, os principais sintomas foram ansiedade, alterações do sono e tristeza. Observaram-se correlações negativas fracas entre funcionalidade, classe funcional e sobrecarga de sintomas. Conclusões: a prevalência de sintomas foi elevada e se modificou ao longo do período de internação. Pacientes com pior capacidade funcional e pior desempenho apresentaram maior sobrecarga de sintomas.