Heart failure symptom monitoring and response training

Objective: The purpose of this study was to test the efficacy of a heart failure (HF) training program on patients' ability to recognize and respond to changes in HF symptoms. The primary aim was to compare event-free survival at 90days. Methods: A total of 99 HF patients randomized to the HF symptom training intervention or usual care completed instruments about self-care (Self-Care of HF Index) and at baseline and 3months. Demographic, clinical, and comorbidity data were collected by interview and chart review. Time to first event (death or a HF-related hospitalization) was tracked by electronic records and patient interview. Results: The sample was predominately male (67.7%), elderly (67.7yrs±12.1) and Caucasian (88.9%). The intervention group reported more events but the difference was not significantly different (χ²=1.18, p=0.26). There was no difference in survival time between groups (χ²=1.53, p=0.216). In paired t-tests, the intervention group had significantly improved self-care maintenance, management and confidence scores (all p<0.01). The usual care group had significantly improved self-care maintenance and management (both p<0.01). Improvements in self-care maintenance and confidence were higher in the intervention group compared with usual care (18.0 vs. 12.9 points). Conclusions: HF symptom awareness training appeared to have an early but not sustained benefit resulting in no difference in 90-day event-free survival. However, larger improvement in self-care maintenance and confidence scores in the intervention group compared to usual care is promising. Embedding meaningful symptom monitoring strategies in self-care maintenance interventions requires further investigation.