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Summary: Background & Aims: Branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), and the marine omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), prevent physical decline in older people. However, their combined effect on physical function in heart failure (HF) is unclear. This study aimed to investigate the association of BCAAs and EPA/DHA with exercise tolerance in people with HF. Methods: In total, 124 patients with HF were prospectively enrolled, and their serum BCAA and EPA/DHA levels, dietary pattern, and 6-minute walking distance (6-MWD) were assessed. Results: Lower 6-MWD quantiles contained more female patients than higher 6-MWD quantiles. Patients with a shorter 6-MWD were older and had a smaller leg circumference, higher B-type natriuretic peptide concentrations, and lower BCAA and EPA/DHA levels than those with longer 6-MWD (all P < 0.05). Patients with a shorter 6-MWD had an imbalanced dietary pattern with low intakes of oily fish, soy products, and vegetables. Meanwhile, their estimated nutrient intakes were high in saturated fatty acids and sucrose and low in polyunsaturated fatty acids and dietary fiber (all P < 0.05). According to multivariate analysis, low EPA/DHA concentrations (per 50 μg/mL decrease) [odds ratio, 95% confidence interval: 1.479 (1.025–2.137)], low dietary fiber intake (per 1 g/1000kcal decrease) [1.524 (1.098–2.119)], and high sucrose intake (per 1 g/1000kcal increase) [1.170 (1.040–1.310)] were independently associated with short 6-MWD (the lowest quantile of 6-MWD,

Abstract Aims The aim of this study was to compare the diagnostic performance of the nutritional indicators, the mini nutritional assessment‐short form (MNA‐SF), the geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI), and the controlling nutritional status (CONUT), in heart failure (HF) patients. Methods and results Nutritional status was prospectively assessed by the aforementioned three nutritional indicators in 150 outpatients with HF who were then followed for 1 year. The prevalence of patients with the nutritional risk as assessed by the MNA‐SF, GNRI, and CONUT scores was 50.0%, 13.3%, and 54.0%, respectively. There was slight agreement of nutritional risk assessment between the MNA‐SF and GNRI scores (κ coefficient = 0.16), as well as the GNRI and CONUT scores (κ = 0.11), but poor agreement between the MNA‐SF and CONUT scores (κ = −0.09). The CONUT score had the lowest area under the curve (AUC) for the identification of low body weight, low muscle mass, and low physical function among the three indicators (all P

Abstract Aims Spironolactone has been shown to improve outcomes in patients with heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction (EF). We investigated whether the discharge use of spironolactone could be associated with better long‐term outcomes among patients with HF with mid‐range EF (HFmrEF). Methods and results We analysed HFmrEF (left ventricular EF 40–49%) patients enrolled in the Japanese Cardiac Registry of Heart Failure in Cardiology, which prospectively studied the clinical characteristics, treatments, and long‐term outcomes of patients hospitalized due to HF. Patients were divided into two groups according to the use of spironolactone at discharge. The primary outcome was a composite of all‐cause death or HF rehospitalization. A total of 457 patients had HFmrEF. The mean age was 69.3 years and 286 (62.6%) were male. Among them, spironolactone was prescribed at discharge in 158 patients (34.6%). Chronic kidney disease (7.6% vs. 16.8%, P = 0.007) was less prevalent and loop diuretics (89.2% vs. 70.2%, P < 0.001) were more often prescribed in patients with spironolactone. During a mean follow‐up of 2.2 years, patients with spironolactone had a lower incidence rate of the primary outcome than those without it (171.5 vs. 278.8 primary outcome per 1000 patient‐years, incidence rate ratio 0.61, 95% confidence interval 0.44–0.86; P = 0.004). After multivariable adjustment, spironolactone use at discharge was associated with a significant reduction in the composite of all‐cause death or HF rehospitalization (adjusted hazard ratio 0.63, 95% confidence interval 0.44–0.90, P = 0.010). Conclusions Among patients with HF hospitalized for HFmrEF, spironolactone use at discharge was associated with better long‐term outcomes.

Background: Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) have been established for primary and secondary prevention of fatal arrhythmias. However, little is known about the influence of ICD indications on quality of life (QOL) and psychological disturbances. This study aimed to examine whether there were differences in QOL and psychological distress in patients that have an ICD for primary or secondary prevention of fatal arrhythmias. Methods: A multicenter survey of 179 consecutive outpatients (29.1% primary prevention) with ICD implantations completed the Short Form-8 (SF-8), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and Worries about ICD (WAICD). Results: Patients with an ICD for primary prevention had a higher trait anxiety score and worries about ICD score than patients with an ICD for secondary prevention (41.7±12.4 vs. 34.7±12.3, p=0.001 and 39.6±18.0 vs. 30.0±18.9, p=0.002, respectively), even after adjusting for demographic and clinical characteristics. In multivariable analysis of variance, primary prevention ICD recipients reported a poorer QOL on the vitality subscale of the SF-8. Conclusions: In our study population, which mostly consisted of New York Heart Association (NYHA) class I and II subjects, primary prevention ICD recipients were more prone to experience worries about their ICD, anxiety, and a poorer QOL compared to secondary prevention ICD recipients. In clinical practice, primary prevention ICD patients should be closely monitored. If warranted, they should be offered psychological intervention, as anxiety and low QOL were predictors of mortality.

INTRODUCTION: As indication for implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) has expanded, prophylactic implantations have increased. It has been well understood that some ICD recipients have psychological problems. Some of those problems are recognized as maladjustment syndromes. METHODS: We studied 35 ICD recipients regularly followed at outpatient department of Kyushu University Hospital in order to clarify the psychological distress and the quality of their daily lives (QOL). By using questionnaire instruments (SF-8, Beck Depression Inventory, Impact of Event Scale Revised, and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory), we studied their psychological status. RESULTS: Depression, anxiety, and post-stress syndromes existed in 45.5% of the ICD recipients and their QOL was compromised. Female ICD recipients reacted to the stress related to ICD implantation differently from male recipients. Elder ICD recipients had a different way of adjustment from the younger recipients. Various ICD related psychological problems were noted in terms of magnitude and diversity. CONCLUSION: To support ICD recipients both physically and mentally, not only the cardiologists but also specialists from other fields such as psychologists and nurse specialists are needed. Ancillary care must be provided through the support team. Cardiologists who determine whether ICD implantation is required must keep in mind potential psychological sequelae.

The article focuses on enhancing symptom perception in heart failure patients through education, routine integration of symptom monitoring, and emotional support to improve timely symptom evaluation.

Background: Exacerbation of heart failure (HF) requires early intervention to prevent hospital admission and to reduce mortality. Early care seeking requires that patients perceive symptoms, accurately evaluate perceived symptoms, and respond appropriately. How perception, evaluation, and response to symptoms are associated with delay in seeking care for worsening symptoms has rarely been studied. Objective: The aims of this study were to investigate the associations of perception of symptoms, evaluation of symptoms, and response to symptoms with delayed care seeking in patients with HF and to identify factors associated with delayed care seeking. Methods: Patients admitted for acute exacerbation of HF were enrolled in this cross-sectional observational study. We used structured interviews, questionnaires, and medical record review to collect data. Factors related to delayed care seeking were identified using nonlinear regression. Results: Analysis was performed in 109 patients with HF. The median delay time was 124 hours. Delayed care seeking was associated with younger age and perception of fatigue, whereas evaluation of and response to symptoms were not associated with delay. Conclusions: Few characteristics of the symptom experience are associated with delayed care seeking among patients with HF who experience an exacerbation of symptoms. Further research is needed to determine why early care seeking is difficult among patients with HF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Health literacy (HL) is an important concept for patient education and disease management with heart failure (HF). However, research on HL has predominantly focused on functional HL (ability to read and write). The World Health Organization advocates evaluating comprehensive HL, including the ability to access information (communicative HL) and critically evaluate that information (critical HL). Objective: We developed an instrument for measuring functional, communicative, and critical levels of HL in patients with HF. Methods: We evaluated the reliability and validity of those 3 HL scales in a sample of 191 outpatients with HF (mean [SD] age, 66.9 [13.9] years; 64.9% males). Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, knowledge of HF, a well as motivation to obtain health information were assessed for each patient through a self-administered questionnaire and review of electronic medical records. Results: We constructed scale items to reflect directly the comprehensive World Health Organization definition of HL. We identified 3 interpretable factors by exploratory factor analysis. Internal consistency was marginally acceptable for total HL (Cronbach α = 0.71), functional HL (α = 0.73), communicative HL (α = 0.68), and critical HL (α = 0.69); the interclass correlation coefficients of the functional, communicative, and critical HL subscales were 0.882, 0.898, and 0.882, respectively. Low functional, communicative, and critical HL was characteristic of older patients, those with lower socioeconomic status, patients living alone, those without a high school education, and patients lacking HF knowledge. Conclusions: Our new HL scale was demonstrated to be a reliable, valid instrument for measuring functional, communicative, and critical HL in patients with HF. Exploring a patient's HL level, including the ability to access, understand, and use health information as well as the ability to read and write, may provide better understanding of patients' potential barriers to self-care., [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: Hyponatremia is common and is associated with poor in-hospital outcomes in patients hospitalized with heart failure (HF). However, it is unknown whether hyponatremia is associated with long-term adverse outcomes. The purpose of this study was to clarify the characteristics, clinical status on admission, and management during hospitalization according to the serum sodium concentration on admission, and determine whether hyponatremia was associated with in-hospital as well as long-term outcomes in 1677 patients hospitalized with worsening HF on index hospitalization registered in the database of the Japanese Cardiac Registry of Heart Failure in Cardiology (JCARE-CARD). Methods and subjects: We studied the characteristics and in-hospital treatment in 1659 patients hospitalized with worsening HF by using the JCARE-CARD database. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to serum sodium concentration on admission <135 mEq/mL (n = 176; 10.6%) or ≥135 mEq/mL (n = 1483; 89.4%). Results: The mean age was 70.7 years and 59.2% were male. Etiology was ischemic in 33.9% and mean left ventricular ejection fraction was 42.4%. After adjustment for covariates, hyponatremia was independently associated with in-hospital death [adjusted odds ratio (OR) 2.453, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.265-4.755, p = 0.008]. It was significantly associated also with adverse long-term (mean 2.1-0.8 years) outcomes including all-cause death (OR 1.952, 95% CI 1.433-2.657), cardiac death (OR 2.053, 95% CI 1.413-2.983), and rehospitalization due to worsening HF (OR 1.488, 95% CI 1.134-1.953). Conclusions: Hyponatremia was independently associated with not only in-hospital but also long-term adverse outcomes in patients hospitalized with worsening HF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Exacerbation of heart failure (HF) requires early intervention to prevent hospital admission and to reduce mortality. Early care seeking requires that patients perceive symptoms, accurately evaluate perceived symptoms, and respond appropriately. How perception, evaluation, and response to symptoms are associated with delay in seeking care for worsening symptoms has rarely been studied., Objective: The aims of this study were to investigate the associations of perception of symptoms, evaluation of symptoms, and response to symptoms with delayed care seeking in patients with HF and to identify factors associated with delayed care seeking., Methods: Patients admitted for acute exacerbation of HF were enrolled in this cross-sectional observational study. We used structured interviews, questionnaires, and medical record review to collect data. Factors related to delayed care seeking were identified using nonlinear regression., Results: Analysis was performed in 109 patients with HF. The median delay time was 124 hours. Delayed care seeking was associated with younger age and perception of fatigue, whereas evaluation of and response to symptoms were not associated with delay., Conclusions: Few characteristics of the symptom experience are associated with delayed care seeking among patients with HF who experience an exacerbation of symptoms. Further research is needed to determine why early care seeking is difficult among patients with HF.

Background: Health literacy (HL) is an important concept for patient education and disease management with heart failure (HF). However, research on HL has predominantly focused on functional HL (ability to read and write). The World Health Organization advocates evaluating comprehensive HL, including the ability to access information (communicative HL) and critically evaluate that information (critical HL)., Objective: We developed an instrument for measuring functional, communicative, and critical levels of HL in patients with HF., Methods: We evaluated the reliability and validity of those 3 HL scales in a sample of 191 outpatients with HF (mean [SD] age, 66.9 [13.9] years; 64.9% males). Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, knowledge of HF, a well as motivation to obtain health information were assessed for each patient through a self-administered questionnaire and review of electronic medical records., Results: We constructed scale items to reflect directly the comprehensive World Health Organization definition of HL. We identified 3 interpretable factors by exploratory factor analysis. Internal consistency was marginally acceptable for total HL (Cronbach α = 0.71), functional HL (α = 0.73), communicative HL (α = 0.68), and critical HL (α = 0.69); the interclass correlation coefficients of the functional, communicative, and critical HL subscales were 0.882, 0.898, and 0.882, respectively. Low functional, communicative, and critical HL was characteristic of older patients, those with lower socioeconomic status, patients living alone, those without a high school education, and patients lacking HF knowledge., Conclusions: Our new HL scale was demonstrated to be a reliable, valid instrument for measuring functional, communicative, and critical HL in patients with HF. Exploring a patient's HL level, including the ability to access, understand, and use health information as well as the ability to read and write, may provide better understanding of patients' potential barriers to self-care.