Evaluation of simplified fluid intake and output recording schemes for the self-management in patients with heart failure: a randomized controlled trial

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Na Lin ◽  
Xiaohuan Chen ◽  
Xiufang Huang ◽  
Donghui Liu ◽  
Zhiyong Wu ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Fluid management plays a pivotal role for heart failure (HF) patients. Medical fluid intake and output recording scheme by health care professional is complicated, which is not easily conducive to carry out by HF patients for self-management at home. This study aimed to optimize the professional fluid records for the self-management of HF patients and evaluate the effectiveness of this simplified recording scheme of fluid intake and output. Methods A randomized, non-blinded, non-inferiority trial with allocation concealment was conducted. Participants meeting the diagnostic criteria for HF were randomly assigned to professional recording group (PRG) and simplified recording group (SRG) according to the random allocation sequence generated by online tool. Days from admission to clinical stability (primary outcome), clinical congestion score (CCS), Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ) and frequency of electrolyte disturbances (secondary outcomes) were collected. The outcomes judges were blinded to group assignment.Results A total of 140 HF patients were enrolled and randomly divided into PRG (n=70) and SRG (n=70). Ultimately, 129 HF patients (PRG, n=65, and SRG, n=64) completed these experiments. Compared to PRG patients, SRG patients also improved their HF symptoms (including shortness of breath and fluid retention), and did not show the prolonged hospitalization time after similar intravenous diuretic treatment. Additionally, the parameters of clinical stability, CCS, MLHFQ, electrolyte disturbances and body weight in SRG patients were not inferior to that of PRG patients ( P >0.05). Conclusions This simplified fluid intake and output recording scheme was safe, efficient and non-inferior to the professional mode, which might effectively enhance their feasibility of self-management, and improve their quality of life in HF patients.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael P. Dorsch ◽  
Karen B. Farris ◽  
Brigid E. Rowell ◽  
Scott L. Hummel ◽  
Todd M. Koelling

BACKGROUND Successful management of heart failure (HF) involves guideline based medical therapy as well as self-care behavior. As a result, the management of HF is moving toward a proactive real-time technological model of assisting patients with monitoring and self-management. OBJECTIVE Evaluate the effectiveness of a mobile application intervention that enhances self-monitoring on health-related quality of life, self-management, and reduces HF readmissions. METHODS A single-center randomized controlled trial was performed. Patients greater than 45 years of age and admitted for acute decompensated HF or recently discharged in the past 4 weeks were included. The intervention group used a mobile application (App). The intervention prompted daily self-monitoring and promoted self-management. The control group (No App) received usual care. The primary outcome was the change in Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ) from baseline to 6 and 12 weeks. Secondary outcomes were the Self-Care Heart Failure Index (SCHFI) questionnaire and recurrent HF admissions. RESULTS Eighty-three patients were enrolled and completed all baseline assessments. Baseline characteristics were similar between groups with the exception of HF etiology. The App group had a reduced MLHFQ at 6 weeks (37.5 ± 3.5 vs. 48.2 ± 3.7, P=0.039) but not at 12 weeks (44.2 ± 4 vs. 45.9 ± 4, P=0.778) compared to No App. There was no effect of the App on the SCHFI at 6 or 12 weeks. The time to first HF admission was not statistically different between the App versus No App groups (HR 0.89, 95% CI 0.39-2.02, P=0.781) over 12 weeks. CONCLUSIONS The mobile application intervention improved MLHFQ at 6 weeks, but did not sustain its effects at 12 weeks. No effect was seen on HF self-care. Further research is needed to enhance engagement in the application for a longer period of time and to determine if the application can reduce HF admissions in a larger study. CLINICALTRIAL NCT03149510


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hang Ding ◽  
Rajiv Jayasena ◽  
Sheau Huey Chen ◽  
Andrew Maiorana ◽  
Alison Dowling ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND Telemonitoring enables care providers to remotely support outpatients in self-managing chronic heart failure (CHF), but the objective assessment of patient compliance with self-management recommendations has seldom been studied. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to evaluate patient compliance with self-management recommendations of an innovative telemonitoring enhanced care program for CHF (ITEC-CHF). METHODS We conducted a multicenter randomized controlled trial with a 6-month follow-up. The ITEC-CHF program comprised the provision of Bluetooth-enabled scales linked to a call center and nurse care services to assist participants with weight monitoring compliance. Compliance was defined a priori as weighing at least 4 days per week, analyzed objectively from weight recordings on the scales. The intention-to-treat principle was used to perform the analysis. RESULTS A total of 184 participants (141/184, 76.6% male), with a mean age of 70.1 (SD 12.3) years, were randomized to receive either ITEC-CHF (n=91) or usual care (control; n=93), of which 67 ITEC-CHF and 81 control participants completed the intervention. For the compliance criterion of weighing at least 4 days per week, the proportion of compliant participants in the ITEC-CHF group was not significantly higher than that in the control group (ITEC-CHF: 67/91, 74% vs control: 56/91, 60%; <i>P</i>=.06). However, the proportion of ITEC-CHF participants achieving the stricter compliance standard of at least 6 days a week was significantly higher than that in the control group (ITEC-CHF: 41/91, 45% vs control: 23/93, 25%; <i>P</i>=.005). CONCLUSIONS ITEC-CHF improved participant compliance with weight monitoring, although the withdrawal rate was high. Telemonitoring is a promising method for supporting both patients and clinicians in the management of CHF. However, further refinements are required to optimize this model of care. CLINICALTRIAL Australian New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry ACTRN12614000916640; https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=366691


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document