Health Behavior and Adherence to Treatment for Sleep Breathing Disorder in the Patient With Heart Failure

BACKGROUND: Heart failure can be complicated by a variety of comorbidities including sleep breathing disorder (SBD). Treatment for SBD in the heart failure patient can improve quality of life and decrease mortality. Few studies have sought to examine the reasons why patients with heart failure who screen positive for SBD do not follow through with diagnostic testing and recommendations for evidence based treatments. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to describe and compare the characteristics of patients with heart failure who adhered to recommendations for evaluation and treatment of SBD with those who did not. Additionally, the study sought to examine reasons for nonadherence. METHODS: A descriptive comparative design was used. Descriptive statistics were used to define and compare the study population in terms of demographic data, which included age, gender, ethnicity, New York Heart Association heart failure classification, and comorbidities. Additionally, patients were surveyed to determine reasons for nonadherence to recommended overnight sleep study evaluation and or treatment with positive airway pressure. RESULTS: Demographics with higher percentages of adherence to evaluation and treatment included younger individuals and male gender. Prevalent reasons for nonadherence for evaluation and treatment included negative perceptions of an overnight sleep study evaluation and advanced age. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: The community nurse educator can use the descriptive comparative findings in this study to tailor educational programs toward individuals with heart failure who have screened positive for SBD who are most at risk for nonadherence.