Abstract | BACKGROUND: METHODS: A total of 59 patients hospitalized for heart failure were randomized to either continuous intravenous infusion ( n = 30) or oral medication (n = 29) within 48 h of admission. The primary outcome was the Barthel index, a universally utilized scale to assess the functional status of patients in their activities of daily living, assessed at 10 days. Secondary outcomes included the number of daily steps counted using pedometers and average hospital costs. RESULTS: Barthel index scores were significantly higher in the oral medication group than in the intravenous group (78.1 ± 20.8 vs. 59.6 ± 34.2, P = 0.029). The number of daily steps was significantly higher in the oral treatment group relative to the intravenous group (P < 0.001), and the average hospital costs were similar between the randomized groups. Multivariate analysis revealed that oral medication was a significant independent predictor of Barthel index score at day 10, and the number of daily steps was significantly associated with the patient's functional outcome. CONCLUSIONS: This trial showed that, in patients hospitalized for heart failure, oral medication increased functional independence during hospitalization compared with sustained continuous intravenous infusion, most likely because the release from the infusion line enabled the patients to be more mobile. Notably, these beneficial effects were achieved without increasing hospital costs.
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Authors | Kazutaka Ueda, Masashi Kasao, Motoaki Shimamura, Hironori Haruta, Shuya Nitta, Mitsunobu Kaneko, Yukari Uemura, Hiroyuki Morita, Issei Komuro, Tetsuro Shirai |
Journal | PloS one
(PLoS One)
Vol. 11
Issue 12
Pg. e0167933
( 2016)
ISSN: 1932-6203 [Electronic] United States |
PMID | 27959941
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)
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Chemical References |
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Topics |
- Administration, Oral
- Aged
- Aged, 80 and over
- Diuretics
(administration & dosage, economics, therapeutic use)
- Female
- Heart Failure
(drug therapy)
- Humans
- Male
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