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. 2021 Jan-Feb;50(1):86-91.
doi: 10.1016/j.hrtlng.2020.08.002. Epub 2020 Aug 11.

Thirst and factors associated with frequent thirst in patients with heart failure in Spain

Sanna Hagelberg Eng  1 , Tiny Jaarsma  1 , Josep Lupón  2 , Beatriz González  3 , Jenny Ehrlin  1 , Violeta Díaz  3 , Antoni Bayes-Genis  2 , Nana Waldréus  4
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Free article

Thirst and factors associated with frequent thirst in patients with heart failure in Spain

Sanna Hagelberg Eng et al. Heart Lung. 2021 Jan-Feb.
Free article

Abstract

Background: Thirst is a troublesome symptom in patients with Heart Failure (HF) and one that might be perceived differently in different countries depending on climate, food and cultural habits. The aims of the study were to describe thirst frequency, duration and intensity and to identify factors associated with frequent thirst in outpatients with HF in a Mediterranean country.

Methods: Data was collected in a cross-sectional study involving 302 patients diagnosed with HF (age 67±12 years, 74% male, LVEF 43%±14) in Spain on thirst frequency and duration, and thirst intensity by patient self-report (VAS, 0-100 mm). Clinical variables were collected from the medical files. Regression analysis was used to identify factors independently associated with frequent thirst.

Results: Of all the patients, 143 (47%) were frequently thirsty, and their median (25th and 75th percentiles) thirst intensity was higher (VAS 50 mm [20-67] vs 7 [0-20], p<.001). Their thirst lasted longer compared to those who never/sometimes were thirsty (p<.001). Less treatment with angiotensin receptor blockers (Odds Ratio [OR] 2.72; 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 1.33-5.58), diuretics >40 mg/day (OR 1.92; 95% CI 1.02-3.64), depression (OR 2.99; CI 1.17-7.62), male gender (OR 1.98; CI 1.08-3.64) and worse New York Heart Association functional class (OR 1.92; 95% CI 1.05-3.52) were independently associated with frequent thirst.

Conclusions: About half of patients with HF and fluid restriction experienced frequent thirst in a Mediterranean area of Spain, and their thirst duration and intensity were significantly increased. Frequent thirst was associated with demographic, clinical and therapeutic variables. The results may help to identify patients with a higher risk of frequent thirst and might suggest therapeutic changes in order to diminish this troublesome symptom.

Keywords: Heart failure; Thirst duration; Thirst frequency; Thirst intensity.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.