Impact of the nursing consultation on the frequency of hospitalizations in patients with heart failure in Curitiba, Parana State

Abstract

Background: Heart failure (HF) has become a public health problem with increased incidence and prevalence in the last decade, a consequence of the aging of the population and improved pharmacological and interventionist therapies. It has high rates of mortality and morbidity, expressed as high rates of hospitalizations and re-hospitalizations, even in patients submitted to new therapies, especially ACEI and beta-blockers.

Objective: This study is the analysis of the impact that the nursing consultation has on the frequency of hospitalizations in patients with HF living in the city of Curitiba, state of Parana and its metropolitan region.

Method: Patients with a diagnosis of HF and New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional classification, with telephone access, living in the city of Curitiba or its metropolitan region, life expectancy > 3 months due to non-cardiac diseases, aged 18 or older, non-users of illicit drugs. The groups were created by simple random allocation (drawing lots) and one group received the usual medical care, nursing consultation and telephone monitoring every 15 days of educational nature, intervention group (IG), whereas the other group received the usual medical care, monthly telephone monitoring of administrative and epidemiological nature, control group (CG). The follow-up was carried out for 6 months.

Results: The IG needed 0.25+/-0.79 and the CG needed 1.10 +/-1.41; p = 0.037 hospitalizations.

Conclusion: The nursing consultation promotes the decrease in the frequency of hospitalizations in patients with HF undergoing treatment and living in the city of Curitiba and its metropolitan region.