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.