Key result
Latent class profile analysis identified four distinct symptom clusters (low, physical, psychological, and high distress) that differed significantly by age, education level, and comorbidities.
Cross-Sectional (n=4,011)
Heart failure patients experience distinct physical and psychological symptom clusters that are influenced by age, education, and comorbidities, highlighting the potential for targeted symptom management strategies.
Symptom clustering may aid personalized HF assessment; hypothesis-generating and requires prospective validation before practice change.
Patients with heart failure (HF) experience multiple symptoms or symptom clusters. The purposes of this study were to (a) determine if distinct latent classes of HF symptoms could be identified, and (b) explore whether sociodemographic and clinical characteristics influenced symptom cluster membership. A total of 4,011 HF patients recruited from outpatient setting completed the Minnesota Living With Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ), including five physical symptoms (edema, shortness of breath, fatigue-increased need to rest, fatigue-low energy, and sleep difficulties) and three psychological symptoms (worrying, feeling depressed, and cognitive problems). Four distinct classes using latent class profile analysis were identified: low distress (Class 1), physical distress (Class 2), psychological distress (Class 3), and high distress (Class 4). Significant differences among the four latent classes were found for age, education level, and comorbidities. Symptom clusters are useful for recognition of HF symptoms, allowing for the development of strategies that target symptom groups.
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Park et al. (2017) conducted a cross-sectional in Heart failure (n=4,011). Heart failure symptoms was evaluated on Distinct latent classes of HF symptoms. Latent class profile analysis identified four distinct symptom clusters (low, physical, psychological, and high distress) that differed significantly by age, education level, and comorbidities.
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