Heart failure & cardiomyopathies
Heart Failure Patients' Perspectives on Treatment Outcomes and Unmet Medical Needs: A Qualitative Preference Study
Authors' conclusion
This study shows that, besides increasing life expectancy, HF patients prioritize improvements in symptoms and side effects reducing their QoL and independence, such as shortness of breath and fatigue.
Study context
- Population
- Belgian heart failure (HF) patients (age range 58–79, mean age 72)
- Participants
- 14 patients
- Outcome
- HF patients' unmet medical needs and preferred treatment outcomes
Methodological detailsliterature review with systematic search strategy, semi-structured interviews, framework method
- Literature review with systematic search strategy
- Semi-structured interviews
- Framework method
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- Most important unmet medical needs: shortness of breath and fatigue (negative impact on quality of life (QoL) and independence)
- QoL improvements prioritised over life expectancy; highest cumulative scores: (1) independence, (2) shortness of breath, (3) impaired renal function, (4) survival, (5) fatigue, (6) risk of hospitalization, (7) communication with and between physicians
- Least important: mechanism of action, route of administration, dose frequency, weight fluctuations
- Spontaneously raised characteristics most often related to the general care process
Further findings
Risk tolerance towards HF treatment
- Some patients expressed zero tolerance for side effects, having not yet experienced discomfort from treatment or disease
Information needs and uncertainties
- Desire for practical, comprehensible oral advice from physician; high value on individualized treatment decision-making
- Uncertainty whether experienced effects were due to treatment, disease, ageing or comorbidities
Original publication
Heart Failure Patients' Perspectives on Treatment Outcomes and Unmet Medical Needs: A Qualitative Preference Study. ESC Heart Fail. Published 10 June 2024. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →