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University of San Diego

Adults with Preexisting Diagnosis of Heart Failure in the Environment of Coronavirus Disease 2019

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

<p>Background: Heart disease continues to be the leading cause of death among adults in the United States and other industrialized countries. Heart failure (HF) is a form of heart disease and has become an epidemic with complications and medical care costs increasing at an alarming rate. HF affects more than 5.7 million adults in the United States with an incidence between 550,000 to 670,000 annually, primarily affecting females, African Americans, and adults aged 55 years and older. HF is also associated with a high rate of mortality, estimated to increase, with a risk rate of 13%, 32%, and 64% among hospitalized adults at 30-day, 1-year, and 5-year respectively. To date, treatment of HF is disease management including medication management, patient education programs, implantable cardiac devices, and end-of-life care. Since the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was declared a pandemic in March 2020 in the U.S., research has shown an increased risk of complications and mortality among adults with HF. Currently, limited information exists about the influence COVID-19 has on preexisting HF among adults aged 18 years and older.</p> <p>Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the difference in cardiac health assessment biomarkers by COVID-19 status (positive or negative) in adults aged 18 years and older with preexisting HF, within the COVID-19 pandemic environment.</p> <p>Method: A descriptive-correlational, longitudinal design with repeated measures analysis. Retrospective data were extracted from the electronic health record of patients (N = 400) who received care at an acute care hospital in Nevada during the COVID-19 pandemic between October 1, 2020 to January 31, 2022.</p> <p>Results: Statistically significant associations were found between COVID-19 status and ethnicity, discharge disposition, gender, and age; COVID-19 status and health assessment cardiac biomarkers (i.e., high-sensitivity C-reactive protein [hs-CRP] and high-sensitivity troponin [hs-TnI]); and cardiac health assessment biomarkers and age. Data indicated elevated hs-CRP levels among participants with HF and concomitant COVID-19. Although hs-CRP was found to be elevated, data indicates hs-CRP levels returned to normal over time.</p> <p>Implication for Nursing: Nurses have continued to care for patients diagnosed with HF since COVID-19 was declared a pandemic. By knowing the influence of COVID-19 on preexisting HF, nurses are better prepared to identify patient needs, minimize long-term sequelae, and implement interventions resulting in positive patient health care outcomes.</p>

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
PhD Nursing
Level thesis:degree_level
Dissertation: Open Access
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Nursing
Year dc:date.available
2022

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Phillips, Ronald

Subjects

dc:subject × 9

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Repository record dc:identifier
https://digital.sandiego.edu/dissertations/954
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:digital.sandiego.edu:dissertations-1959

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
University of San Diego
Base URL
digital.sandiego.edu/do/oai/
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Phillips, Ronald. Adults with Preexisting Diagnosis of Heart Failure in the Environment of Coronavirus Disease 2019. Dissertation: Open Access thesis, 2022. https://digital.sandiego.edu/dissertations/954