Baseline demographic and clinical data
| Control (n=41) | Intervention (n=43) | p Value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age (mean, SD) | 78.4 (10.0) | 78.3 (16.8) | 0.99 |
| Gender | 0.12 | ||
| Female | 16 (39.0%) | 25 (56.1%) | |
| Male | 25 (61.0%) | 18 (43.9%) | |
| Marital status | 0.83 | ||
| Married | 28 (68.3%) | 27 (62.8%) | |
| Widowed | 9 (22.1%) | 13 (30.2%) | |
| Divorced | 2 (4.8%) | 1 (2.3%) | |
| Single | 2 (4.8%) | 2 (4.7%) | |
| Education | 0.51 | ||
| No schooling | 12 (29.3%) | 19 (44.2%) | |
| Primary | 20 (48.8%) | 16 (37.2%) | |
| Secondary | 7 (17.1%) | 7 (16.3%) | |
| University | 2 (4.9%) | 1 (2.3%) | |
| Employment | 0.42 | ||
| In employment | 1 (2.4%) | 1 (2.3%) | |
| Retired/housewife | 40 (97.6%) | 42 (97.7%) | |
| Household | 0.29 | ||
| Living alone | 5 (12.2%) | 2 (4.7%) | |
| Living with family | 36 (87.8%) | 41 (95.3%) | |
| Number of family members (mean, SD) | 3 (1.4) | 3 (1.5) | 0.07 |
| Housing type | 0.58 | ||
| Rental | 5 (12.2%) | 5 (11.6%) | |
| Private | 10 (24.4%) | 14 (32.6%) | |
| Public/staff quarters | 26 (63.4%) | 24 (55.8%) | |
| Perceived economic status | 0.74 | ||
| More than enough | 10 (24.4%) | 11 (25.6%) | |
| Just enough | 20 (48.8%) | 25 (58.1%) | |
| Not enough | 11 (26.8%) | 7 (16.3%) | |
| Chronic heart failure aetiology | |||
| Ischaemic heart disease | 23 (56.1%) | 30 (69.8%) | 0.19 |
| Hypertension | 22 (53.7%) | 29 (67.4%) | 0.20 |
| Cardiomyopathy | 4 (9.8%) | 3 (7.0%) | 0.65 |
| Heart valve disease | 9 (22.0%) | 5 (11.6%) | 0.20 |
| Arrhythmias | 23 (56.1%) | 18 (41.9%) | 0.19 |
| Congenital heart defects | 1 (2.4%) | 0 (0) | 0.30 |
| New York Heart Association Class | 0.03 | ||
| II | 3 (7.3%) | 6 (14.0%) | |
| III | 22 (53.7%) | 31 (72.1%) | |
| IV | 16 (39.0%) | 6 (14.0%) | |
| Left ventricular ejection fraction (mean, SD) | 37 (17) | 39 (14) | 0.57 |
| Cardiac surgical intervention received | |||
| Coronary artery bypass graft surgery | 3 (7.3%) | 2 (4.7%) | 0.61 |
| Cardiac catheter | 15 (36.6%) | 12 (27.9%) | 0.39 |
| Cardiac resynchronisation therapy | 4 (9.8%) | 0 (0) | 0.04 |
| Implantable cardioverter defibrillator | 3 (7.3%) | 1 (2.3%) | 0.28 |
| Percutaneous coronary intervention | 11 (26.8%) | 10 (23.3%) | 0.71 |
| Permanent pace maker | 9 (22.0%) | 2 (4.7%) | 0.02 |
| Valve surgery | 5 (12.2%) | 4 (9.3%) | 0.67 |
| Comorbidity | |||
| Asthma | 3 (7.3%) | 4 (9.3%) | 0.74 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease | 5 (12.2%) | 2 (4.7%) | 0.21 |
| Cancer | 5 (12.2%) | 7 (16.3%) | 0.59 |
| Diabetes | 15 (36.6%) | 20 (46.5%) | 0.36 |
| Hyperlipidaemia | 9 (22.0%) | 18 (41.9%) | 0.051 |
| Myocardial infarction | 13 (31.7%) | 17 (39.5%) | 0.45 |
| Stroke | 7 (17.1%) | 7 (16.3%) | 0.92 |
| Renal impairment | 18 (43.9%) | 26 (60.5%) | 0.13 |
| Medications | |||
| ACE inhibitors | 12 (29.3%) | 17 (39.5%) | 0.32 |
| Anticoagulants | 9 (22.0%) | 8 (18.6%) | 0.70 |
| Aldosterone receptor antagonists | 10 (24.4%) | 10 (23.3%) | 0.90 |
| ARBs | 2 (4.9%) | 3 (7.0%) | 0.68 |
| β blockers | 13 (31.7%) | 17 (39.5%) | 0.45 |
| Calcium channel blockers | 1 (2.4%) | 6 (14.0%) | 0.06 |
| Digoxin | 7 (17.1%) | 6 (14.0%) | 0.69 |
| Diuretics | 24 (58.5%) | 26 (60.5%) | 0.86 |
| Statins | 1 (2.4%) | 4 (9.3%) | 0.18 |
| Length of stay at index admission (median, range) | 6 (1–37) | 5 (2–66) | 0.93 |
| PPS | |||
| Ambulation | 32 (78.0%) | 35 (81.4%) | 0.70 |
| Activity | 41 (100.0%) | 43 (100.0%) | N/A |
| Self-care | 19 (46.3%) | 25 (58.1%) | 0.28 |
| Intake | 39 (95.1%) | 43 (100.0%) | 0.14 |
| Conscious level | 19 (46.3%) | 25 (58.1%) | 0.28 |
| Overall (mean, SD) | 6.6 (1.2) | 6.4 (1.0) | 0.55 |
| ESAS | |||
| Pain | 21 (51.2%) | 27 (62.8%) | 0.28 |
| Tiredness | 39 (95.1%) | 42 (97.7%) | 0.53 |
| Nausea | 3 (7.3%) | 4 (9.3%) | 0.74 |
| Depression | 28 (68.3%) | 27 (62.8%) | 0.60 |
| Anxiety | 30 (73.2%) | 29 (67.4%) | 0.57 |
| Drowsiness | 7 (17.1%) | 8 (18.6%) | 0.86 |
| Loss of appetite | 37 (90.2%) | 35 (81.4%) | 0.25 |
| Sense of well-being | 39 (95.1%) | 40 (93.0%) | 0.68 |
| Dyspnoea | 34 (82.9%) | 37 (86.0%) | 0.69 |
| Total | 33.0 (12.7) | 35.5 (13.6) | 0.38 |
ARBs, angiotensin-receptor blockers; ESAS, Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale; PPS, Palliative Performance Scale.