Abstract and Introduction
Abstract
Guidelines on heart failure (HF) stress the importance of lifestyle advice, although there is little evidence that such recommendations improve symptoms or prognosis. Patients experience symptoms of different intensities which impair their daily activities and reduce the quality-of-life. To cope with their clinical condition, many patients seek advice about lifestyle and self-management strategies when in contact with medical care providers, particularly specialized HF services. Self-care management is an important part of HF treatment, thus health professionals working with patients with HF have recognized the need for more specific recommendations on lifestyle advice. The present paper summarizes the available evidence, promotes self-care management, and aims to provide practical advice for health professionals delivering care to HF patients. It also defines avenues of research to optimize self-care strategies in a number of key areas to derive further benefits.
Introduction
Guidelines on heart failure (HF) stress the importance of lifestyle advice, although there is little evidence that such recommendations improve symptoms or prognosis.[1] Most of the advice was developed in an era before there was effective drug therapy and only a few randomized controlled trials on life-style interventions have been published.[2–4] Many patients seek advice about lifestyle and self-management strategies when in contact with medical care providers, particularly specialized HF services.[5] Although there is little evidence that lifestyle intervention is of benefit, it is now part of multidisciplinary care. Specialized HF services improve adherence to self-management strategies, improve quality-of-life, and show a clear benefit in terms of reduced number of hospitalizations[6,7] and mortality.[8]
Different models for HF services are tailored to local needs and the most efficient content and structure to deliver optimal health outcomes is yet to be defined. With increasing internet availability and patient literacy, the specifically designed and regularly updated web site www.heartfailurematters.org may prove to be very helpful for both patients and medical care providers, particularly as it has now been translated into five languages. The challenge of HF to patients and their families mandates tailored education on self-care maintenance and management throughout the natural history of the syndrome, with suitable recommendations on self-care and lifestyle[9] from the earliest stage through to terminal care.
Health professionals working with patients with HF have recognized the need for more specific recommendations on lifestyle advice. The present paper summarizes the available evidence, promotes self-care management, and aims to provide practical advice for those delivering care to HF patients (Table 1). Current HF guidelines have identified several gaps in evidence. We have extended the list of common issues that should be addressed in future clinical research. We realize that when delivering patient education, health professionals need to be aware of the personal situation of the patient and aim to provide tailored advice to improve their quality-of-life.
Eur J Heart Fail. 2011;13(2):115-126. © 2011 Oxford University Press
Cite this: Self-care Management of Heart Failure - Medscape - Feb 01, 2011.
