Abstract
Background: Heart failure is associated with high rates of hospitalization and mortality. The majority of patients with heart failure suffer from physical symptoms, and these symptoms are strongly associated with poor health-related quality of life. To improve physical symptoms and health-related quality of life, the modifiable factors associated with physical symptoms need to be examined. Purpose: To examine modifiable psychosocial and behavioral factors associated with physical symptoms and health-related quality of life, and the mediator effects of physical symptoms on the relationships between the modifiable factors and health-related quality of life in patients with heart failure. Methods: Data on potential correlates of physical symptoms (i.e., depressive symptoms, perceived control, social support, medication adherence, sodium intake, and self-care management) were collected from 109 patients with heart failure (mean age 58 ± 14 years, 46% male, 89% New York Heart Association class II/III). Data on physical symptoms (Symptom Status Questionnaire-Heart Failure) and health-related quality of life (Minnesota Living with Heart Failure) also were collected. Simple and multiple regression analyses were used to analyze the data. Results: Among the potential correlates, depressive symptoms and sodium intake were associated with physical symptoms (F= 11.63, p< .001), and depressive symptoms and perceived control were associated with health-related quality of life (F= 9.917, p< .001). Physical symptoms mediated the relationship between depressive symptoms and health-related quality of life. Conclusion: Improving depressive symptoms and eating the appropriate amount of sodium may be primary intervention targets to improve physical symptoms. To improve health-related quality of life, depressive symptoms as well as physical symptoms need to be managed appropriately.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1482-1490 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | International Journal of Nursing Studies |
| Volume | 51 |
| Issue number | 11 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Nov 1 2014 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© 2014 Elsevier Ltd.
Funding
These findings show that improvement in depressive symptoms and an appropriate amount of sodium intake may be reasonable primary heart failure intervention targets to improve physical symptoms, and, in turn, health-related quality of life. Further studies are needed to develop more effective interventions to improve depressive symptoms and facilitate appropriate sodium intake and to determine the effects of these interventions on physical symptoms and health-related quality of life. Conflict of interest: No declared. Funding: Funding for this study came from American Heart Association, Scientific Development ( 0830104N ) Grant to Seongkum Heo. Ethical approval: The studies were approved by the Institutional Review Boards of the University of Kentucky (05-0579-P6H), Indiana University (0712-65), St. Vincent hospital in Indiana (R2008-064), and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (131581).
| Funders | Funder number |
|---|---|
| American Heart Association, Scientific Development | 0830104N |
Keywords
- Depressive symptoms
- Heart failure
- Physical symptoms
- Quality of life
- Sodium
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Nursing