Effects of WeChat platform-based health management on health and self-management effectiveness of patients with severe chronic heart failure

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Epidemiological studies have found that the prevalence of chronic heart failure in China is 0.9%, the number of people affected is more than 4 million, and the 5-year survival rate is even lower than that of malignant tumors.

AIM

To determine the impact of WeChat platform-based health management on severe chronic heart failure patients’ health and self-management efficacy.

METHODS

A total of 120 patients suffering from chronic heart failure with cardiac function grade III-IV, under the classification of the New York Heart Association, were admitted to our hospital in May 2017. In January 2020, they were divided into two groups: A control group (with routine nursing intervention) and an observation group (with WeChat platform-based health management intervention). Changes in cardiac function, 6-min walking distance (6MWD), high-sensitivity cardiac troponin (hs-cTnT), and N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) were detected in both groups. The Self-Care Ability Scale (ESCA) score, Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire score, and compliance score were used to evaluate self-management ability, quality of life, and compliance of the two groups. During a follow-up period of 12 mo, the occurrence of cardiovascular adverse events in both the groups was counted.

RESULTS

The left ventricular ejection fraction, stroke output, and 6MWD increased, and the hs-cTnT and NT-proBNP decreased in both the groups, as compared to those before the intervention. Further, cardiac function during the 6MWD, hs-cTnT, and NT-proBNP improved significantly in the observation group after intervention (P < 0.05). The scores of self-care responsibility, self-concept, self-care skills, and self-care health knowledge in the observation group were higher than those of the control group before intervention, and their ESCA scores were significantly improved after intervention (P < 0.05). The Minnesota heart failure quality of life (LiHFe) scores of physical restriction, disease symptoms, psychological emotion, social relations, and other items were decreased compared to those of the control group before intervention, and the LiHFe scores of the observation group were significantly improved compared to those of the control group (P < 0.05). With intervention, the compliance scores of rational diet, regular medication, healthy behavior, and timely reexamination were increased, thereby leading to the compliance scores of the observation group being significantly improved compared to those of the control group (P < 0.05). During the 12 mo follow-up, the incidence rates of acute myocardial infarction and cardiogenic rehospitalization in the observation group were lower than those of the control group, and the hospitalization time in the observation group was shorter than that of the control group, but there was no significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

WeChat platform-based health management can improve the self-care ability and compliance of patients with severe chronic heart failure, improve the cardiac function and related indexes, reduce the occurrence of cardiovascular adverse events, and enable the avoidance of rehospitalization.

Keywords: WeChat platform; Health management; Severe chronic heart failure; Self-care capacity; Cardiac function; Adverse cardiovascular events

Core Tip: Through a set of retrospective studies, it was confirmed that health management based on the WeChat platform can improve the self-care ability and compliance of patients with severe chronic heart failure, improve the cardiac function and related indexes, reduce the occurrence of cardiovascular adverse events, and avoid rehospitalization.