The following article can help in documenting decline in patients with heart failure as well as explaining prognosis to families. Development of worsening shortness of breath that might normally result in hospitalization is associated with worsening prognosis.
TITLE: Impact of Worsening Heart Failure on Long-Term Prognosis in Patients With Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction.
JOURNAL: The American journal of cardiology
DOI: 10.1016/j.amjcard.2022.08.035
Author(s): Chimed|Surenjav|S|;Stassen|Jan|J|;Galloo|Xavier|X|;Meucci|Maria Chiara|MC|;van der Bijl|Pieter|P|;Knuuti|Juhani|J|;Delgado|Victoria|V|;Marsan|Nina Ajmone|NA|;Bax|Jeroen J|JJ|
Abstract: Worsening heart failure (HF), defined as hospitalization for worsening signs and symptoms of HF or the need for urgent intravenous diuretics, is often considered a surrogate of poor prognosis in clinical trials. However, data on the prognostic implications of worsening HF in patients with HF and reduced ejection fraction is limited. In conclusion, worsening HF, defined by HF hospitalization or the urgent need for intravenous diuretics, is independently associated with poor long-term prognosis in patients with HF and reduced ejection fraction.
https://www.focalize.md/find-journals/?a=YRi0WoQBjZS8LUbgM6d-
The following article takes a look at the impact of massage therapy on hospice patients. Interestingly, the patients studied had greater improvment in anxiety than pain after massage therapy.
TITLE:Impact of Massage Therapy on the Quality of Life of Hospice Patients and Their Caregivers: A Pilot Study.
JOURNAL: Journal of palliative care
DOI: 10.1177/0825859720975991
Author(s): RD Havyer;MI Lapid;TJ Dockter;SA McCue;AJ Stelpflug;ML Bigelow;MM Robsahm;T Elwood;JJ Strand;BA Bauer;SM Cutshall;JA Sloan;MP Walton;KJ Whitford
Abstract: Evidence for massage therapy (MT) in hospice patients remains limited. We conducted a prospective pilot study on MTs impact on quality of life of hospice patients and caregivers. A satisfaction survey was completed at study completion. Fifteen patients completed all 3 MT sessions and were given the final symptom assessment and satisfaction survey and their caregivers completed final assessments. The proportion of patients considered success (AUC > baseline) in the primary endpoints were the following: pain 40.9%, depression 40.9%, anxiety 54.5%, LASA 54.5%. Median difference scores were largely zero indicating no significant temporal change in symptoms. Patients were highly satisfied with MT. This pilot study indicated that MT was a feasible and well-received intervention in our population of patients with inadequately controlled symptoms.
https://www.focalize.md/find-journals/?a=uj5OcX0BEtb5a2zzc4nW
