Heart Failure Case Study

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HEART FAILURE Heart failure is the most common admission diagnosis in the United States in patients exceeding 65 years. The condition increases 10% with age in individuals of 80 years of age or older. It is characterized as a chronic condition in which there is inadequate supply of blood due to abnormality of heart and changes in hemodynamic, nerve, kidney and hormone system. It is associated with decreased quality and comforts of life and increased mortality and morbidity rates. Certain factors like prior illness, environment or social situations may influence the response of symptoms and may cause poor symptom recognition. Elderly patients constitute the majority population of HF having a worse diagnosis. In pathophysiology, new techniques…show more content…
Sample size varies from 15 to 40 participants approximately per predictor for multiple regression analysis. The exploratory nature of the analysis with the quality to meet the aims and objectives was concluded in a sample of 77 participants. The enrolled participants were 65 years of age or older, medically stable, able to understand English fluently provided with written informed consent. Participants were recruited within 3 days of admission to control problems with ability to remember their illness experience; they also had to be independently living in the community and manage their illness themselves by self-care. An informed consent agreement must be signed by all…show more content…
This scale was derived from the Framingham Diagnostic Criteria and the literature; it has 17 items that discuss symptom occurrence and perceived severity of symptoms on a 4- point. The scale items are additive; higher scores show higher perceived distress. In order to assess social, emotional and cognitive contextual factors affecting symptom response; the response to Symptom Questionnaire was used. The questionnaire addresses the context of symptoms, emotional response to symptoms, and cognitive response to symptoms, response to system of others and the severity of the symptoms perceived. The questionnaire was developed to assess different contextual factors affecting myocardial infarction. The revision for content validity was evaluated by nursing experts in clinical research and practice. Functional status can be measured in two ways. The NYHA functional class (RANGE=1 to 4) was determined from medical record review or by interview. Worst functional ability was indicated by higher class. In addition, typical functional level of participant when not ill acutely was measured by Specific Activity Scale. (Goldman, Hashimoto, Cook, Loscalzo, 1981). Metabolic units were produced by the scale for common daily activities. This scale classifies patients into one of four classes; worst functional ability was shown by the higher class.

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