Exploring experiences associated with aortic stenosis diagnosis, treatment and life impact among middle-aged and older adults.
Kylie Picou, Debra G Heard, Pinak B Shah and 1 others
PMID 35394457WHAT IT FOUND
Patients with aortic stenosis often attributed early symptoms to aging, waited months for diagnosis, and relied on clinicians to explain treatment choices.
Medically managed patients more often reported anxiety and exhaustion; participants after valve replacement more often reported optimism.
Key findings
01Most participants reported symptoms before diagnosis, and the median time from symptom onset to diagnosis was 6 months.
02Most participants relied on health care professionals to guide treatment decisions, although some reported confusing or unclear explanations.
03Medically managed participants reported more negative feelings, while valve replacement participants described gratitude and optimism after recovery.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
Read the rest of this summary
You get three full summaries a month, free, and we do not ask for a card. Search, the TL;DRs and your library stay unlimited either way.
What it does not show
The participants were more educated and likely more engaged than the general population of patients with aortic stenosis, so their desires for information and shared decision making may not apply to all patients. The sample was mostly White, non-Hispanic, and higher income, so experiences of underrepresented racial, ethnic, and lower income groups may be missing. All details were self-reported, including time to diagnosis and symptoms, and the medically managed group may have included patients with mild disease. The study did not compare outcomes between medical management, transcatheter valve implantation, and surgical valve replacement, so it cannot show which treatment is better. Only 45 participants were interviewed, and recruitment was through patient networks and professional recruiters.
Declared interests
K. Picou and D. Heard are employed by the American Heart Association. P. Shah is a proctor or consultant for Edwards Lifesciences and has received educational grants from Edwards Lifesciences, Medtronic, and Abbott. The remaining authors report no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read post-procedure optimism as proof that valve replacement is better than medical management. This study did not compare treatment outcomes, and medically managed patients may have had milder disease.