Awareness of Heart failure and its preventive practice among Ischemic Heart Disease patients attending cardiac clinic at Teaching Hospital Batticaloa

Abstract

Heart failure is an ultimate clinical outcome, resulted from either structural or functional dysfunction of ventricular filling or ejection of blood .Heart failure had been the underlying cause for the majority of death and it might be considered as an end stage of various heart affliction .Heart failure is a rapidly growing cardiovascular disease which affects more than 37.7 million individuals in world wide. Adequate self-care is essential for good quality of life and the prevention of hospitalization in patients with heart failure. The purpose of this study was to determine the awareness of heart failure and its preventive practice among Ischemic Heart Disease patients attending Cardiac clinic at teaching hospital, Batticaloa. A descriptive study was conducted among 352 Ischemic Heart Disease patients attending Cardiac clinic at teaching hospital, Batticaloa. After obtaining written consent, data were collected according to randomized sampling, using validated interviewer administered questionnaire. The data was entered and analyzed by Statistical package of social Science 26 (SPSS V. 26). The descriptive analysis was employed in calculation of frequency and percentage. Majority of participants (41.4%) had good awareness regarding associated symptoms of heart failure. In same population only (27.3%) of participants were correctly identified that chest pain is not associated symptoms of heart failure. The most identified common risk factors were alcohol consumption (86%) , diabetic mellitus( 81.2%) , hypertension( 77.5%), obesity( 66.4%). In same population majority of participants (78.9%) were revealed that low sodium diet is preventing heart failure, while only (45.5%) of participants were revealed that reducing intake of oil is preventing heart failure. Majority of participants (57.1%) had good awareness regarding risk factors of heart failure. Most of participants (25.2%) have poor level of preventive practices on regular exercise to prevent heart failure. In same population majority of participants have good level of preventive practices on reducing alcohol consumption (65.9%), cessation of smoking (73%), regular intake of medicines (78.1%), reducing weight (39.4%), regular follow up (86.9%) to prevent heart failure. Overall level of awareness on preventive practices of heart failure was good in this study. Awareness of heart failure and its preventive practices among participants was good in many aspects. The review highlights the importance of increasing awareness of heart failure among ischemic heart disease patients about associated symptoms, risk factors, preventive practices that is required. Public awareness and education campaigns should be targeted towards those at risk of heart failure especially considering ischemic heart disease patients.