Abstract

VIANA CASTANO, Juan Camilo; ARREDONDO HERNANDEZ, Andrés  and  CEDRE CABRERA, Angelina. Effectiveness of the ambulatory therapeutic intervention in adults with chronic heart failure. Rev Cubana Salud Pública [online]. 2015, vol.41, n.2, pp. 253-267. ISSN 0864-3466.

Introduction: heart failure is a cardiovascular disease whose prevalence and incidence is increasing and will continue rising as the population aging increases. It is one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality in Cuba, hence the importance of its management by the primary health care specialist. Objective: to evaluate the effectiveness of a home care-based therapeutic intervention in adult patients with chronic heart failure. Methods: a quasi-experimental intervention was made from February 1st 2012 through March 31st 2013. Forty one patients were selected from a physician's doctor office under "13 de Marzo" polyclinics; they were diagnosed with heart failure. All of them were followed-up at the primary health care level by applying the Cuban guide-based therapeutics for the clinical management of heart failure. Before the intervention, the variables called functional capacity and quality of life were measured. After treatment and follow-up for one year, both variables were reassessed in addition to determining the level of satisfaction. Results: the average age of participants was 62.9 years and 53.7 % were females. There was improvement in their quality of life and in the functional capacity after the intervention, with contrast statistic (Z= -5.02) and (Z= -4.0), respectively. Most of the patients (53.7 %) were satisfied and others rated as very satisfied (24.4 %). Conclusions: home care-based intervention for patients with heart failure is effective since it reduces effects on the quality of life and on the functional capacity; compliance with treatment is good and the patient's satisfaction with the service is high.

Keywords : heart failure; primary care; quality of life.

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