Increased Quality of Life Among Newly Diagnosed Patients With Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction in the Months After Initiation of Guideline-Directed Medical Therapy and Wearable Cardioverter Defibrillator Prescription

Background The patient experience of heart failure involves a multi-impact symptom response with functional limitations, psychological changes, and significant treatment burden. Objective The aim of this study was to examine the change in patient-reported outcomes in newly diagnosed patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) prescribed a wearable cardioverter defibrillator. Methods Adults hospitalized for new-onset heart failure, due to ischemic or nonischemic cardiomyopathy, and prescribed a wearable cardioverter defibrillator within 10 days post discharge were approached for inclusion. Participants completed the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire at 3 time points: baseline, day 90, and day 180. Results A total of 210 patients (26% female) were included. All Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire subscales (physical limitation, symptom frequency, quality of life, and social limitation) showed improvement from baseline to day 90 (all Ps
Source: Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing - Category: Nursing Tags: ARTICLES: Heart Failure Source Type: research