Symptoms Experienced by Heart Failure Patients in Hospice Care

End-stage heart failure patients are a prevalent hospice population with unique symptoms. The purpose of this study was to describe the frequency, severity, and distress of symptoms experienced by heart failure patients receiving hospice care. The relationships among depressive symptoms and symptom prevalence, severity, and distress were also examined. Forty patients with end-stage heart failure in hospice provided demographic information and responses to the Memorial Symptom Assessment Heart Failure Scale and the Profile of Mood States-Depression Scale. Patients reported experiencing a mean of 12.1 symptoms (range, 0-32). The most prevalent symptoms reported were dry mouth (72.5%), lack of energy (70%), and shortness of breath (65%). Symptom prevalence was not indicative of symptom severity and/or distress. Patients endorsed an average of 8 depressive symptoms (range, 0-10). Moreover, most end-stage heart failure patients indicated that they remained hopeful. The findings of the research underscore a need for further research into the symptoms experienced by end-stage heart failure patients in hospice to optimize symptom management by clinicians.