Elderly patients with chronic heart failure have higher risk of geriatric syndromes: results of the nursing study

Abstract

Abstract Background The prevalence of chronic heart failure (CHF) and geriatric syndromes increases with age, however the associations between these conditions have not yet been studied. Purpose To evaluate the associations between CHF and geriatric syndromes in elderly patients. Methods Four hundred and seventy-two in-patients (18% male) aged 75–100 (mean 81±4) years were included in the nursing study. Patients were examined by nurses with a specially designed nursing assessment algorithm that included Mini-Cog test, Morse Fall scale, Norton scale, Barthel Activities of daily living Index, Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) tests, Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) scale, Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15), and a number of other questionnaires. Results CHF was observed in 180 patients (38%). Functional class (FC) of II (NYHA) was diagnosed in 133 (74%) of them, FC of III – in 47 (26%). Patients with and without CHF did not differ by age and gender. CHF patients had lower points on Norton scale (17,6±2,0 vs 18,2±1,8; p<0,001), Barthel Index (92,0±13,9 vs 95,0±9,1; p=0,009), SPPB (5,3±3,2 vs 6,0±3,3; p=0,018), and higher points on Morse Fall scale (44,3±19,9 vs 39,3±21,1; p=0,007) and GDS-15 (4,7±3,2 vs 4,2±3,3; p=0,041) compared to non-CHF patients. CHF patients had higher frequency of frailty (75% vs 65%; p=0,029), depression (47% vs 38%; p=0,041), and cognitive impairment (54% vs 41%; p=0,008). Univariate regression analysis showed that CHF presence increased the frailty risk by 1,6 times (OR 1,59; 95% CI 1,05–2,40; p=0,029), the depression risk – by 1,5 times (OR 1,48; 95% CI 1,02–2,16; p=0,041), and the cognitive impairment risk – by 1,7 times (OR 1,65; 95% CI 1,14–2,40; p=0,009). Among CHF patients, severity of CHF clinical manifestations correlated with severity of geriatric syndromes. CHF patients with FC of II had higher points of Norton scale (17,8±1,9 vs 16,9±2,1; p=0,005), Barthel Index (93,4±12,9 vs 88,3±15,8; p=0,005), SPPB (4,4±3,3 vs 3,9±3,0; p=0,001), walk speed (0,58±0,26 vs 0,45±0,22 m/s; p=0,002), and lower points of GDS-15 (4,4±3,3 vs 5,5±2,9; p=0,008) compared to CHF patients with FC of III. The frequency of depression was higher in CHF patients with FC of III (64% vs 41%; p=0,008). Univariate regression analysis showed that in CHF patients with FC of III the depression risk was higher by 2,5 times (OR 2,50; 95% CI 1,26–4,98; p=0,009) compared to CHF patients with FC of II. Conclusion Elderly CHF patients had higher risk of geriatric syndromes such as frailty, depression, and cognitive impairment. Among CHF patients, severity of CHF clinical manifestations correlated with severity of geriatric syndromes. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None