关键词: 心房颤动, 症状群, 症状管理, 聚类分析, 护理

Abstract:

Objective To identify the composition of symptom cluster in patients with atrial fibrillation and to explore the differences in the distribution of symptom clusters on sociodemographic variables and disease characteristics. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 197 patients with atrial fibrillation in the arrhythmia clinic of a tertiary general hospital in Tianjin,using the general information questionnaire and the symptom subscale of the University of Toronto AF Severity Scale（AFSS） as data collection instruments. Symptom clusters were extracted by systematic cluster analysis,and the effects of sociodemographic variables and disease characteristics on the distribution of symptom clusters were determined by chi-square test,and Kruskal-Wallis H rank sum test. Results There were 3 symptom clusters in atrial fibrillation patients,including cardiac symptom cluster（palpitation,chest pain）,fatigue symptom cluster（dyspnea at rest,fatigue,vertigo） and exertional symptom cluster（dyspnea during activity,exercise intolerance）. Gender,type of atrial fibrillation,body mass index,CHA₂DS₂-VAS_C score,combined hypertension,coronary heart disease,and heart failure were the main factors affecting the composition of the symptom clusters. Conclusion Symptom clusters can be helpful for patients with atrial fibrillation to detect symptoms early and seek medical help in time,as well as to provide theoretical support for clinical staff to implement more accurate and comprehensive symptom management for atrial fibrillation patients.

Key words: Atrial Fibrillation, Symptom Cluster, Symptom Management, Cluster Analysis, Nursing Care