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ABSTRACT: Objective
To characterize a novel "worst"-symptom visual analogue scale (WS-VAS) versus the traditional dyspnea visual analogue scale (DVAS) in an acute heart failure (AHF) trial.Background
AHF trials assess symptom relief as a pivotal endpoint with the use of dyspnea scores. However, many AHF patients' worst presenting symptom (WS) may not be dyspnea. We hypothesized that a WS-VAS may reflect clinical improvement better than DVAS in AHF.Methods and results
AHF patients (n = 232) enrolled in the Renal Optimization Strategies Evaluation in Acute Heart Failure (ROSE-AHF) Trial indicated their WS at enrollment and completed DVAS and WS-VAS at enrollment and 24, 48, and 72 hours. Dyspnea was the WS in 61%, body swelling in 29%, and fatigue in 10% of patients. Clinical characteristics differed by WS. In all patients, DVAS scores were higher (less severe symptoms) than WS-VAS and the change in WS-VAS over 72 hours was greater than the change in DVAS (P < .001). Changes in DVAS were smaller in patients with body swelling and fatigue than in patients with dyspnea as their WS (P = .002), whereas changes in the WS-VAS were similar regardless of patients' WS. Neither score, nor its change, was associated with available decongestion markers (change in N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide, weight or cumulative 72-hour urine volume).Conclusions
Many AHF patients have symptoms other than dyspnea as their most bothersome symptom. The WS-VAS better reflects symptom improvement across the spectrum of AHF phenotypes. Symptom relief and decongestion were not correlated in this AHF study.
SUBMITTER: AbouEzzeddine OF
PROVIDER: S-EPMC4916018 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Nov
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
AbouEzzeddine Omar F OF Wong Yee Weng YW Mentz Robert J RJ Raza Sadi S SS Nativi-Nicolau Jose J Kociol Robb D RD McNulty Steven E SE Anstrom Kevin J KJ Hernandez Adrian F AF Redfield Margaret M MM
Journal of cardiac failure 20151221 11
<h4>Objective</h4>To characterize a novel "worst"-symptom visual analogue scale (WS-VAS) versus the traditional dyspnea visual analogue scale (DVAS) in an acute heart failure (AHF) trial.<h4>Background</h4>AHF trials assess symptom relief as a pivotal endpoint with the use of dyspnea scores. However, many AHF patients' worst presenting symptom (WS) may not be dyspnea. We hypothesized that a WS-VAS may reflect clinical improvement better than DVAS in AHF.<h4>Methods and results</h4>AHF patients ( ...[more]