Symptom burden in heart failure: assessment, impact on outcomes, and management.
Heart Fail Rev
; 22(1): 25-39, 2017 01.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-27592330
ABSTRACT
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.
Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Palliative Care
/
Self Care
/
Evidence-Based Medicine
/
Disease Management
/
Heart Failure
Type of study:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Prevalence_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Aspects:
Patient_preference
Limits:
Humans
Language:
En
Journal:
Heart Fail Rev
Journal subject:
CARDIOLOGIA
Year:
2017
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
United States