Navigating Heart Failure Symptom Assessment: The full spectrum of symptoms and quality of life associated with heart failure (NHF-SYMP-SPECTRUM)
General Overview
The NHF-SYMP-SPECTRUM project will conduct multi-country research to assess and evaluate the full spectrum of symptoms (including physical, psychosocial, and behavioural) and quality of life experienced by adults with heart failure, from diagnosis through to end-of-life care. The project aims to provide an understanding of patient perspectives on symptom assessment and management strategies in heart failure across the UK, Spain, Germany, and Turkey.
Purpose and Significance
Heart failure is a multifaceted and life-threatening condition characterised by significant morbidity and mortality, poor functional capacity and quality of life, and high healthcare costs. Heart failure affects more than 64 million people worldwide. People with heart failure experience a complex disease trajectory, characterised by a wide range of symptoms and clinical signs. These physical and/or psychological symptoms significantly affect quality of life and overall health and well-being.
In recent years, researchers and clinicians have highlighted that people with heart failure experience highly complex and variable symptom patterns. Despite this recognition, there remains limited understanding of the psychosocial symptoms experienced by people living with heart failure. There is a clear need to understand the full spectrum of symptoms, not only at diagnosis and during acute care, but also across other phases of heart failure, including palliative and end-of-life care.
This project aligns with the EUniWell “Health and Well-being” arena, with a primary focus on improving comprehensive symptom assessment strategies and enhancing quality of life for people with heart failure.
Implementation Method and Timeline
An exploratory mixed-methods research design will be employed, incorporating a quantitative survey followed by semi-structured interviews, to identify the symptoms experienced by adults living with heart failure from diagnosis through to end-of-life care. Purposive and snowball sampling will be used to recruit volunteer participants. Interviews will be conducted in person, online, or by telephone, depending on participant availability and preferences.
January – March 2026
- Ethical approval from participating universities
March – August 2026
- Data collection
- Preliminary data analysis
September – November 2026
- Drafting of findings reports
December 2026
- Preparation of an open-access publication
- Presentation of the findings at conferences
Expected Outcomes
The primary outcome of this study is a comprehensive understanding of the full spectrum of physical, psychosocial, and behavioural symptoms experienced by people living with heart failure across multiple countries. Where possible, symptom trajectories from diagnosis to the current stage of illness will be mapped. These findings will inform personalised symptom assessment and tailored support to meet patients’ evolving needs.
Contact persons:
Dr Muzeyyen Seckin (PI), University of Birmingham
Professor Cara Bailey, University of Birmingham
