Udeoji DU, Shah AB, Bharadwaj P, Katsiyiannis P, Schwarz ER. Evaluation of the prevalence and severity of pain in patients with stable chronic heart failure. World J Cardiol 2012; 4(8): 250-255 [PMID: 22953022 DOI: 10.4330/wjc.v4.i8.250]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Ernst R Schwarz, MD, PHD, FACC, FSCAI, FESC, Heart Institute of Southern California, 31720 Temecula Parkway, Ste. 200, Temecula, CA 92592, United States. ernst.schwarz@cshs.org
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Brief Article
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World J Cardiol. Aug 26, 2012; 4(8): 250-255 Published online Aug 26, 2012. doi: 10.4330/wjc.v4.i8.250
Evaluation of the prevalence and severity of pain in patients with stable chronic heart failure
Dioma U Udeoji, Ankit B Shah, Parag Bharadwaj, Peter Katsiyiannis, Ernst R Schwarz
Dioma U Udeoji, Ernst R Schwarz, Peter Katsiyianis, Heart Institute of Southern California, Temecula, CA 92592, United State
Dioma U Udeoji, Ankit B Shah, Parag Bharadwaj, Ernst R Schwarz, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, United States
Parag Bharadwaj, Ernst R Schwarz, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States
Author contributions: Udeoji DU designed the study, acquired data, statistically analyzed, and interpreted data, drafted the article, wrote the manuscript and critically revised the manuscript; Shah AB supported the work and made contributions, analyzed data, interpreted data and reviewed the manuscript; Bharadwaj P was a co-investigator and part of the administration, gave supportive contributions, technology and material support, participated in the study design and manuscript review; Katsiyiannis P was part of the administration, gave supportive contributions, technology and material support; Schwarz ER was the principal Investigator and part of the administration, gave supportive work/ contributions, technology and material support, participated in the study design, manuscript writing, critical revision of the manuscript and general supervision of the work.
Correspondence to: Ernst R Schwarz, MD, PHD, FACC, FSCAI, FESC, Heart Institute of Southern California, 31720 Temecula Parkway, Ste. 200, Temecula, CA 92592, United States. ernst.schwarz@cshs.org
Telephone: 1-951-3020606 Fax: +1-951-2497277
Received: July 5, 2012 Revised: August 20, 2012 Accepted: August 24, 2012 Published online: August 26, 2012
Abstract
AIM: To evaluate the prevalence and severity of pain in patients with chronic stable heart failure (HF) in an outpatient clinic setting.
METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study evaluating symptoms of generalized or specific pain in patients with chronic stable heart failure. A standardized questionnaire (Edmonton Symptom Assessment System) was administered during a routine outpatient clinic visit. The severity of pain and other symptoms were assessed on a 10 point scale with 10 being the worst and 0 representing no symptoms.
RESULTS: Sixty-two patients [age 56 ± 13 years, 51 males, 11 females, mean ejection fraction (EF) 33% ± 17%] completed the assessment. Thirty-two patients (52%) reported any pain of various character and location such as chest, back, abdomen or the extremities, with a mean pain score of 2.5 ± 3.1. Patients with an EF less than 40% (n = 45, 73%) reported higher pain scores than patients with an EF greater than 40% (n = 17, 27%), scores were 3.1 ± 3.3 vs 1.2 ± 1.9, P < 0.001. Most frequent symptoms were tiredness (in 75% of patients), decreased wellbeing (84%), shortness of breath (SOB, 76%), and drowsiness (70%). The most severe symptom was tiredness with a score of 4.0 ± 2.8, followed by decreased wellbeing (3.7 ± 2.7), SOB (3.6 ± 2.8), and drowsiness (2.8 ± 2.8).
CONCLUSION: Pain appears to be prevalent and significantly affects quality of life in HF patients. Adequate pain assessment and management should be an integral part of chronic heart failure management.
