Exploring Symptom Clusters in People With Heart Failure. (February 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Park, Jumin; Moser, Debra K.; Griffith, Kathleen; Harring, Jeffrey R.; Johantgen, Meg
• Is Part Of: Clinical nursing research. Volume 28:Number 2(2019)
• Page Start: 165
• Page End: 181
• Publication Date: 2019-02
• Subjects: heart failure -- signs and symptoms -- cluster analysis; Nursing -- Research -- Periodicals; Nursing -- Periodicals; Clinical medicine -- Research -- Periodicals; 610.73
• DOI: 10.1177/1054773817729606
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1054-7738

Abstract

Patients with heart failure (HF) experience multiple symptoms or symptom clusters. The purposes of this study were to (a) determine if distinct latent classes of HF symptoms could be identified, and (b) explore whether sociodemographic and clinical characteristics influenced symptom cluster membership. A total of 4, 011 HF patients recruited from outpatient setting completed the Minnesota Living With Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ), including five physical symptoms (edema, shortness of breath, fatigue-increased need to rest, fatigue-low energy, and sleep difficulties) and three psychological symptoms (worrying, feeling depressed, and cognitive problems). Four distinct classes using latent class profile analysis were identified: low distress (Class 1), physical distress (Class 2), psychological distress (Class 3), and high distress (Class 4). Significant differences among the four latent classes were found for age, education level, and comorbidities. Symptom clusters are useful for recognition of HF symptoms, allowing for the development of strategies that target symptom groups.