Cardiac cachexia among patients with chronic heart failure: A systematic review

• Published in: Nursing forum (Hillsdale) Vol. 56; no. 4; pp. 916 - 924
• Main Authors: Hweidi, Issa M., Al‐Omari, Ahmad K., Rababa, Mohammad J., Al‐Obeisat, Salwa M., Hayajneh, Audai A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Philadelphia Hindawi Limited 01.10.2021
• Subjects: Appetite loss; assessment; Biological markers; Cancer; cardiac cachexia; Clinical outcomes; Cost analysis; Culture; detection; Health problems; Health status; Heart failure; Hypertension; Intervention; Medical diagnosis; Medical personnel; Medical prognosis; multidisciplinary approach; Nursing; Risk factors; Smoking; Systematic review; Treatment methods
• ISSN: 0029-6473; 1744-6198
• DOI: 10.1111/nuf.12623

Introduction Despitecardiac cachexia being a prevalent health problem among heart failure (HF) patients, it has been given little attention by nursing researchers. Therefore, this study aims to conduct a systematic review that investigates cardiac cachexia among patients with HF. Methodology A systematic review will be performed according to the PRISMA guidelines to assess the findings of twelve selected studies which meet the inclusion criteria of the systematic review research. The selected articles were published between 2000 and 2020 across three databases: PubMed, CINAHL, and MEDLINE. Results In comparison to cancer cachexia, cardiac cachexia has been insufficiently studied and is poorly understood. No definitive diagnostic method for cardiac cachexia has been identified in the literature. Age, smoking, and hypertension have been reported to be risk factors for cardiac cachexia. Cardiac cachexia has been significantly associated with lethal structural changes in the heart and has been measured using anthropometric measures and laboratory biomarkers. A combination of pharmacological and nonpharmacological treatments has been effectively implemented to manage cardiac cachexia. Conclusion A focused multidisciplinary approachthat takes culture into consideration is required to set a variety of assessment and interventional strategies for the early detection and proper management of cardiac cachexia. Strengths and Limitations of the Study Cardiac cachexia is prevalent health problem associated with poor prognosis and adverse health outcomes that include advanced myocardial dysfunction, increased rehospitalization rate, and decreased cost‐effectiveness rate in patients with CHF. A multidisciplinary approach is needed for early detection and effective interventions to successfully manage cardiac cachexia and prevent its devastating pathological consequences. Culture could play a substantial role in incidence and prevalence of cardiac cachexia which necessitate cross‐cultural investigation. Nurses and other health care professionals must be equipped with the necessary knowledge about cardiac cachexia for early detection and effective nursing interventions. More studies are required to enhance the detection and diagnosis of cardiac cachexia, which are important for the better management and survival of patients with cardiac cachexia.