title: Characteristics and treatment of patients with heart failure in the emergency department.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study was conducted to develop a detailed profile of patients who come to the emergency department for heart failure treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patient interviews were supplemented by medical record reviews in a convenience sample of 57 participants. A structured interview guide included data concerning patient characteristics and ED treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants used a variety of self-care strategies before coming to the emergency department. Many of the patients studied (25%) reported barriers to medication adherence, such as memory problems and lack of knowledge regarding self-administration. The most frequently reported symptoms were breathing difficulties (88%), chest discomfort (35%), and fatigue (16%). Seventy-four percent of the participants were classified as specific activity scale class III or IV, indicating moderate to severe functional limitation. Mean quality of life at the time of interview was 5.1 (on a 1 to 10 scale). Length of stay was < or = 2 days for 33%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A number of the findings of this study have implications for ED nurses. For example, almost one third of the patients studied had not received directions for a low-sodium diet during hospitalization, when fluid volume overload with sodium retention was the most common cause of hospitalization in a study of patients with decompensated heart failure. Hospital lengths of stay of no more than 2 days suggest that early detection and treatment of acute heart failure may reduce the need for ED visits for some patients. Patients need education and support with self-help strategies and need to better understand the administration of their medication.
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, University of Kentucky, Lexington, USA. jdwels00@pop.uky.edu
authors.forename: J Darlene
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Welsh
authors.forename: Regina M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Heiser
authors.forename: Mary P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Schooler
authors.forename: Dorothy Y
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Brockopp
authors.forename: Mark B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Parshall
authors.forename: Karma B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Cassidy
authors.forename: Usama
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Saleh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015897:Comorbidity; D016529:Emergency Nursing; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D012189:Retrospective Studies