Document Type
Journal Article
Date of this Version
5-2017
Publication Source
The Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing
Volume
32
Issue
3
Start Page
296
Last Page
303
DOI
10.1097/JCN.0000000000000344
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Symptom clusters have not previously been explored among individuals with atrial fibrillation of any type.
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to determine the number of symptom clusters present among adults with chronic atrial fibrillation and to explore sociodemographic and clinical factors potentially associated with cluster membership.
METHODS: This was a cross-sectional secondary data analysis of 335 Australian community-dwelling adults with chronic (recurrent paroxysmal, persistent, or permanent) atrial fibrillation. We used self-reported symptoms and agglomerative hierarchical cluster analysis to determine the number and content of symptom clusters present.
RESULTS: There were slightly more male (52%) than female participants, with a mean (SD) age of 72 (11.25) years. Three symptom clusters were evident, including a vagal cluster (nausea and diaphoresis), a tired cluster (fatigue/lethargy, weakness, syncope/dizziness, and dyspnea/breathlessness), and a heart cluster (chest pain/discomfort and palpitations/fluttering). We compared patient characteristics among those with all the symptoms in the cluster, those with some of the symptoms in the cluster, and those with none of the symptoms in the cluster. The only statistically significant differences were in age, gender, and the use of antiarrhythmic medications for the heart cluster. Women were more likely to have the heart symptom cluster than men were. Individuals with all of the symptoms in the heart cluster were younger (69.6 vs 73.7 years; P = .029) than those with none of the symptoms in the heart cluster and were more likely to be on antiarrhythmic medications.
CONCLUSION: Three unique atrial fibrillation symptom clusters were identified in this study population.
Copyright/Permission Statement
This is a non-final version of an article published in final form in Streur, M., Ratcliffe, S.J., Ball, J., Stewart, S., & Riegel, B. (2017). Symptom Clusters in Adults with Chronic Atrial Fibrillation. Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing 32, no. 3: 296-303. doi: 10.1097/JCN.0000000000000344
Keywords
Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Atrial Fibrillation, Australia, Chronic Disease, Cluster Analysis, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Socioeconomic Factors, Symptom Assessment
Recommended Citation
Streur, M., Ratcliffe, S. J., Ball, J., Stewart, S., & Riegel, B. (2017). Symptom Clusters in Adults with Chronic Atrial Fibrillation. The Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing, 32 (3), 296-303. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/JCN.0000000000000344
Included in
Cardiology Commons, Cardiovascular Diseases Commons, Circulatory and Respiratory Physiology Commons, Nursing Commons, Preventive Medicine Commons
Date Posted: 06 August 2018
This document has been peer reviewed.