J Cardiovasc Nurs. 2020 Jan/Feb;35(1):19-25. doi: 10.1097/JCN.0000000000000607.
Thirst is a distressing symptom and influences quality of life of patients with heart failure (HF). Knowledge about thirst in HF is insufficient; therefore, the aim of this study was to describe factors related to thirst, self-reported reasons for thirst, and interventions to relieve thirst in 3 different countries.
A cross-sectional study was conducted in Sweden, the Netherlands, and Japan. Patients were recruited at the HF clinic or during HF hospitalization. Thirst was assessed by a visual analog scale (0-100); reasons for thirst and interventions to relieve thirst were assessed by an open-ended questionnaire. Patients were divided into low and high thirst based on the first and third tertiles of the visual analog scale.
Two hundred sixty-nine patients participated in the study (age, 72 ± 12 years). Mean thirst intensity was 24 ± 24, with a mean thirst of 53 ± 15 in the highest tertile. No significant differences in thirst among the 3 countries were found. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that a higher dose of loop diuretics (odds ratio, 3.47; 95% confidence interval, 1.49-8.06) and fluid restriction (odds ratio, 2.21; 95% confidence interval, 1.08-4.32) were related to thirst. The most reported reasons for thirst were salty/spicy food (20%) and low fluid intake (18%). Most of the patients (56%) drank more in case of thirst; 20% only drank a little bit, probably related to a fluid restriction.
Thirst in patients with HF was related to a higher dose of loop diuretics and fluid restriction. Healthcare providers should realize that it is important to assess thirst regularly and reconsider the need of a fluid restriction and the amount of loop diuretics in case of thirst.
口渴是心力衰竭（HF）患者的一种痛苦症状，会影响其生活质量。目前，人们对 HF 患者口渴的了解还很有限；因此，本研究的目的是描述 3 个不同国家与口渴相关的因素、患者自述的口渴原因以及缓解口渴的干预措施。
这是一项在瑞典、荷兰和日本进行的横断面研究。在 HF 门诊或住院期间招募患者。采用视觉模拟量表（0-100）评估口渴程度；采用开放式问卷评估口渴原因和缓解口渴的干预措施。根据视觉模拟量表的第一和第三个三分位数，将患者分为低口渴和高口渴组。
本研究共纳入 269 例患者（年龄 72±12 岁）。平均口渴强度为 24±24，最高三分位组的平均口渴程度为 53±15。3 个国家之间的口渴程度无显著差异。多变量逻辑回归分析显示，较高剂量的袢利尿剂（优势比，3.47；95%置信区间，1.49-8.06）和液体限制（优势比，2.21；95%置信区间，1.08-4.32）与口渴相关。患者报告的最常见口渴原因是咸/辣食物（20%）和液体摄入不足（18%）。大多数患者（56%）在口渴时会多喝水；20%的患者只喝一点水，这可能与液体限制有关。
HF 患者的口渴与袢利尿剂剂量较高和液体限制有关。医护人员应认识到，定期评估口渴非常重要，在出现口渴时，应重新考虑液体限制和袢利尿剂用量的必要性。
