Yaewon Seo

Predictors of modifications in instrumental activities of daily living in persons with heart failure.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to identify factors related to disability in heart failure (HF) patients using a modified version of the model of disability proposed by Nagi. The hypothesized relationships among pathology (severity of HF and comorbidity), impairment (dyspnea, fatigue, muscle strength), functional limitation (functional capacity), and disability (modification in instrumental activities of daily living [IADLs]) were assessed as well as the influence of age and sex on pathways to disability. Methods and Results: Using a cross-sectional design, a convenience sample of 48 men and 53 women (mean age, 59.5 years) with New York Heart Association class II-IV was recruited at a HF clinic. Path analyses via Amos revealed that 71% of the variance in modifications in IADLs was explained by the significant predictors of dyspnea (B = .67), functional capacity (B = −.25), and age (B = .19). Dyspnea and comorbidity also had indirect effects on modification in IADLs through functional capacity. Age also had an indirect effect on modification in activities of daily living through functional capacity, and sex had an indirect effect through dyspnea and functional capacity. Conclusion: Patients with HF may benefit from interventions targeted at reducing dyspnea with daily activities and improving functional capacity to prevent disability.

Systematic review of symptom clusters in cardiovascular disease.

Background: Although individual symptoms and symptom trajectories for various cardiovascular conditions have been reported, there is limited research identifying the symptom clusters that may provide a better understanding of patients’ experiences with heart disease. Aims: To summarize the state of the science in symptom cluster research for patients with acute coronary syndrome, myocardial infarction, coronary artery bypass surgery, and heart failure through systematic review and to provide direction for the translation of symptom cluster research into the clinical setting. Methods: Databases were searched for articles from January 2000 through to May 2015 using MESH terms “symptoms, symptom clusters, acute coronary syndrome (ACS), myocardial infarction (MI), coronary heart disease (CHD), ischemic heart disease (IHD), heart failure (HF), coronary artery bypass surgery (CABS), cluster analyses, and latent classes.” The search was limited to human studies, English language articles, and original articles investigating symptom clusters in individuals with heart disease. Fifteen studies meeting the criteria were included. Results: For patients with ACS and MI, younger persons were more likely to experience clusters with the most symptoms. Older adults were more likely to experience clusters with the lowest number of symptoms and more diffuse and milder symptom clusters that are less reflective of classic ACS presentations. For HF patients, symptom clusters frequently included physical and emotional/cognitive components; edema clustered in only three studies. Symptom expression was congruent across geographical regions and cultures. Conclusions: The findings demonstrated similarities in symptom clusters during ACS, MI, and HF, despite multiple methods and analyses. These results may help clinicians to prepare at-risk patients for proper treatment-seeking and symptom self-management behaviors.

Predictors of Cognitive/Affective and Somatic Depression in Heart Failure Patients:

The effects of depression on patients with heart failure (HF) are substantial, yet the predictors remain unclear. The predictors of cognitive/affective and somatic depression in stable HF patients were studied. Using a cross-sectional design, 150 HF outpatients were recruited at two mid-Western HF clinics. Predictors included dyspnea with activities of daily living, family and friend social support, and loneliness; age and gender were control variables. All constructs were measured using standardized instruments. Structural equation modeling (SEM) showed that cognitive/affective depression was predicted by greater dyspnea and loneliness, whereas somatic depression was predicted by more dyspnea and friend support. Also, greater dyspnea was related to more loneliness and less friend support; less friend support was related to loneliness. Women reported more dyspnea and loneliness. Since cognitive/affective and somatic depression have different predictors, further study is warranted to identify HF patients at risk for depression and to establish interventions targeted at improving depression.

A Home-Based Diaphragmatic Breathing Retraining in Rural Patients With Heart Failure

Dyspnea limits physical activity and functional status in heart failure patients. This feasibility study examined effects of a diaphragmatic breathing retraining (DBR) intervention delivered over 8 weeks with follow-up at 5 months. The intervention group (n = 18) was trained at baseline and received four telephone calls. An attention control group (n = 18) received four telephone calls with general health information. Results from linear mixed model analysis with effect sizes (η2) showed dyspnea improved in both groups, with little difference between groups. Compared with attention alone, the intervention increased physical activity (calories expended; η2 = .015) and functional status (η2 = .013) across the 5-month follow-up and increased activity counts at 8 weeks (η2 = .070). This intervention was feasible and demonstrated promising effects on activity and function but not by reducing dyspnea. Patients may have increased physical activity because of instructions to use DBR during activities of daily living. Further exploration of the intervention’s underlying physiological effect is needed.

Use of the Late-Life Function and Disability Instrument for Measuring Physical Functioning in Patients With Heart Failure.

Background and Purpose: We evaluated the psychometric properties of the functioning component of the Late-Life Function and Disability Instrument (LLFDI) in individuals with heart failure (HF). Methods: Factor analyses were used (N = 151) to assess the dimensionality and structure of the basic and advanced lower extremity function subscales. Rasch model scores were compared to the raw means of the items. Results: Rasch scores correlated with the raw means of the items at r = .96, indicating raw means are comparable to the more complicated Rasch analysis in estimating physical functioning using the basic and advanced subscales. Conclusions: The lower extremity physical functioning subscales of the LLFDI have potential as a clinical assessment tool to identify HF patients who are at high risk for functional limitations.

Selecting symptom instruments for cardiovascular populations

The purpose of this review is to provide a guide for researchers and clinicians in selecting an instrument to measure four commonly occurring symptoms (dyspnea, chest pain, palpitations, and fatigue) in cardiac populations (acute coronary syndrome, heart failure, arrhythmia/atrial fibrillation, and angina, or patients undergoing cardiac interventions). An integrative review of the literature was conducted. A total of 102 studies summarizing information on 36 different instruments are reported in this integrative review. The majority of the instruments measured multiple symptoms and were used for one population. A majority of the symptom measures were disease-specific and were multi-dimensional. This review summarizes the psychometrics and defining characteristics of instruments to measure the four commonly occurring symptoms in cardiac populations. Simple, psychometrically strong instruments do exist and should be considered for use; however, there is less evidence of responsiveness to change over time for the majority of instruments.