Karina Sanches Machado D'Almeida

Triceps skinfold as a prognostic predictor in outpatient heart failure

Background Most reports regarding the obesity paradox have focused on body mass index (BMI) to classify obesity and the prognostic values of other indirect measurements of body composition remain poorly examined in heart failure (HF). Objective To evaluate the association between BMI and other indirect, but easily accessible, body composition measurements associated with the risk of all-cause mortality in HF. Methods Anthropometric parameters of body composition were assessed in 344 outpatients with a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of ≤50% from a prospective HF cohort that was followed-up for 30 ± 8.2 months. Survival was evaluated using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazard regression analysis. Results HF patients were predominantly male, of non-ischemic etiology, and had moderate to severe LV systolic dysfunction (mean LVEF = 32 ± 9%). Triceps skinfold (TSF) was the only anthropometric index that was associated with HF prognosis and had significantly lower values in patients who died (p = 0.047). A TSF ≥ 20 mm was present in 9% of patients that died and 22% of those who survived (p = 0.027). Univariate analysis showed that serum creatinine level, LVEF, and NYHA class were associated with the risk of death, while Cox proportional hazard regression analysis showed that TSF ≥ 20 was a strong independent predictor of all-cause mortality (hazard ratio = 0.36; 95% CI = 0.13-0.97, p = 0.03). Conclusion Although BMI is the most widely used anthropometric parameter in clinical practice, our results suggested that TSF is a better predictive marker of mortality in HF outpatients.

Adaptação transcultural para o Brasil do Dietary Sodium Restriction Questionnaire (Questionário Restritivo da Dieta de Sódio) (DSRQ)

BACKGROUND Sodium restriction is a non-pharmacological measure often recommended to patients with heart failure (HF). However, adherence is low, being among the most common causes of HF decompensation. The Dietary Sodium Restriction Questionnaire (DSRQ) aims at identifying factors that affect adherence to dietary sodium restriction by patients with HF. In Brazil, there are no instruments to assess these factors. OBJECTIVE Perform the transcultural adaptation of DSRQ. METHODS Methodological study that involved the following steps: translation, synthesis, back-translation, review by an expert committee, pretest of the final version and analysis of interobserver agreement. In the pretest, items and their understanding were evaluated, as well as internal consistency by Cronbachs alpha. The instrument was simultaneously and independently administered by two researchers and the kappa test was used for agreement analysis. RESULTS Only one question underwent major semantic and/or cultural alteration. At the pretest, Cronbachs alpha for the total obtained was 0.77; for the Attitude, Subjective Norm and Behavioral Control scales were obtained, respectively: 0.66, 0.50 and 0.85. At the agreement step, the Kappa was calculated for 12 of the 16 questions, with values ranging from 0.62 to 1.00. In items for which the calculation was not possible, the incidence of equal responses ranged from 95% to 97.5%. CONCLUSION Based on the transcultural adaptation of DSRQ, it was possible to propose a version of the questionnaire for further evaluation of psychometric properties.

Cross-cultural adaptation into Brazilian portuguese of the Dietary Sodium Restriction Questionnaire (DSRQ)

BACKGROUND Sodium restriction is a non-pharmacological measure often recommended to patients with heart failure (HF). However, adherence is low, being among the most common causes of HF decompensation. The Dietary Sodium Restriction Questionnaire (DSRQ) aims at identifying factors that affect adherence to dietary sodium restriction by patients with HF. In Brazil, there are no instruments to assess these factors. OBJECTIVE Perform the transcultural adaptation of DSRQ. METHODS Methodological study that involved the following steps: translation, synthesis, back-translation, review by an expert committee, pretest of the final version and analysis of interobserver agreement. In the pretest, items and their understanding were evaluated, as well as internal consistency by Cronbachs alpha. The instrument was simultaneously and independently administered by two researchers and the kappa test was used for agreement analysis. RESULTS Only one question underwent major semantic and/or cultural alteration. At the pretest, Cronbachs alpha for the total obtained was 0.77; for the Attitude, Subjective Norm and Behavioral Control scales were obtained, respectively: 0.66, 0.50 and 0.85. At the agreement step, the Kappa was calculated for 12 of the 16 questions, with values ranging from 0.62 to 1.00. In items for which the calculation was not possible, the incidence of equal responses ranged from 95% to 97.5%. CONCLUSION Based on the transcultural adaptation of DSRQ, it was possible to propose a version of the questionnaire for further evaluation of psychometric properties.

Validity and reliability of the Dietary Sodium Restriction Questionnaire (DSRQ)

INTRODUCTION The Dietary Sodium Restriction Questionnaire (DSRQ) was designed to assess attitudes and behaviors of patients with heart failure (HF) related to following a low-sodium diet. Recently, it has been translated and culturally adapted for use in Brazil. However, further validation of the instrument is required before it can be used in the management of patients with HF in Brazil. OBJECTIVE To test the reliability and validity of the Brazilian version of the DSRQ. METHODS Face and content validity were assessed by a panel of experts. Construct validity was tested using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. Reliability was tested using Cronbachs alpha to assess the internal consistency of the instrument. RESULTS A total of 206 systolic HF outpatients were assessed (mean age, 60.4 ± 11.9 years). Face and content validity analysis showed equivalence between the Brazilian version and the original instrument. In the exploratory factor analysis, the principal component analysis (PCA) yielded four factors with eigenvalues greater than 1. Three models were tested in the confirmatory factor analysis, and the three-factor model resulting from the PCA showed the best fit, accounting for 49% of the variance. Alpha values obtained for the attitude/subjective norm, perceived behavioral control, and dependent behavior subscales were 0.71, 0.67, and 0.79, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that the final validated Brazilian version of the DSRQ is a valid and reliable tool for measuring attitudes and behaviors related to following a low-sodium diet in Brazilian patients with HF.

Adequacy of energy and nutrient intake in patients with heart failure.

BACKGROUND Nutritional factors have a significant influence on the prognosis of patients with heart failure (HF). OBJECTIVE The goal of the present study was to assess the food intake of stable patients with HF. METHODS Patients of both genders aged over 18 years with a confirmed diagnosis of HF were recruited and matched with healthy individuals for age, sex and BMI. Food records and weighing were used to assess participant nutritional intake. DRIs and NCEP-ATP III recommendations were used to evaluate the adequacy of nutritional intake. RESULTS Sixty-five percent of the 40 patients in the sample and 48% of the 25 control subjects were men. The mean age in both groups was 54±8 years and mean BMI was categorized as overweight. Carbohydrate, trans fatty acid and sodium intake were higher in the HF group as compared to control subjects (p=0.006, p.

Adaptación transcultural para Brasil del dietary sodium restriction questionnaire (Cuestionario Restrictivo de la Dieta de Sodio) (DSRQ)

BACKGROUND Sodium restriction is a non-pharmacological measure often recommended to patients with heart failure (HF). However, adherence is low, being among the most common causes of HF decompensation. The Dietary Sodium Restriction Questionnaire (DSRQ) aims at identifying factors that affect adherence to dietary sodium restriction by patients with HF. In Brazil, there are no instruments to assess these factors. OBJECTIVE Perform the transcultural adaptation of DSRQ. METHODS Methodological study that involved the following steps: translation, synthesis, back-translation, review by an expert committee, pretest of the final version and analysis of interobserver agreement. In the pretest, items and their understanding were evaluated, as well as internal consistency by Cronbachs alpha. The instrument was simultaneously and independently administered by two researchers and the kappa test was used for agreement analysis. RESULTS Only one question underwent major semantic and/or cultural alteration. At the pretest, Cronbachs alpha for the total obtained was 0.77; for the Attitude, Subjective Norm and Behavioral Control scales were obtained, respectively: 0.66, 0.50 and 0.85. At the agreement step, the Kappa was calculated for 12 of the 16 questions, with values ranging from 0.62 to 1.00. In items for which the calculation was not possible, the incidence of equal responses ranged from 95% to 97.5%. CONCLUSION Based on the transcultural adaptation of DSRQ, it was possible to propose a version of the questionnaire for further evaluation of psychometric properties.

Aggressive fluid and sodium restriction in decompensated heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: Results from a randomized clinical trial

OBJECTIVES Sodium and fluid restriction is commonly prescribed for heart failure patients. However, its role in the treatment of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) remains unclear. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of a diet with sodium and fluid restriction with an unrestricted diet in patients admitted for decompensated HFpEF. METHODS Patients were randomized to a diet with sodium (0.8 g/d) and fluid (800 mL/d) restriction (intervention group [IG]) or an unrestricted diet (control group [CG]) and followed for 7 d or hospital discharge. The primary outcome was weight loss. Secondary outcomes included clinical stability, perception of thirst, neurohormonal activation, nutrient intake, readmission, and mortality rate after 30 d. RESULTS Fifty-three patients were included (30, IG; 23, CG). The mean ejection fraction was 62% ± 8% for IG and 60% ± 7% for CG (P = 0.44). Weight loss was similar in both groups, being 1.6 ± 2.2 kg in the IG and 1.8 ± 2.1 kg in CG (P = 0.49) as well as the reduction in the congestion score (IG = 3.4 ± 3.5; CG = 3.8 ± 3.4; P = 0.70). The daily perception of thirst was higher in the IG (P = 0.03). Lower energy consumption was seen in the IG (P <0.001). No significant between-group differences at 30 d were found. CONCLUSIONS Aggressive sodium and fluid restriction does not provide symptomatic or prognosis benefits, but does produce greater perception of thirst, may impair the patients food intake, and does not seem to have an important neurohormonal effect in patients admitted for decompensated HFpEF.