Thirst and factors associated with frequent thirst in patients with heart failure in Spain.

• About half of HF patients suffered from frequent thirst and increased thirst intensity. Thirst screening in clinical practice is an important step towards helping patients who develop or suffer from thirst. • HF patients with depression, higher NYHA class, patients on diuretics ≥40 mg/day and patients with no ARB treatment can be more disposed to frequent thirst and should be identified. • Individual assessment of treatments could be helpful for patients experiencing thirst. Patients experiencing frequent thirst might benefit from changing medication from ACE inhibitors to ARB and lowering the dose of diuretics. Also, the need of fluid restriction should be reconsidered and only prescribed to patients who truly benefit from it. Thirst is a troublesome symptom in patients with Heart Failure (HF) and one that might be perceived differently in different countries depending on climate, food and cultural habits. The aims of the study were to describe thirst frequency, duration and intensity and to identify factors associated with frequent thirst in outpatients with HF in a Mediterranean country. Data was collected in a cross-sectional study involving 302 patients diagnosed with HF (age 67±12 years, 74% male, LVEF 43%±14) in Spain on thirst frequency and duration, and thirst intensity by patient self-report (VAS, 0-100 mm). Clinical variables were collected from the medical files. Regression analysis was used to identify factors independently associated with frequent thirst. Of all the patients, 143 (47%) were frequently thirsty, and their median (25^th and 75^th percentiles) thirst intensity was higher (VAS 50 mm [20-67] vs 7 [0-20], p <.001). Their thirst lasted longer compared to those who never/sometimes were thirsty (p <.001). Less treatment with angiotensin receptor blockers (Odds Ratio [OR] 2.72; 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 1.33–5.58), diuretics >40 mg/day (OR 1.92; 95% CI 1.02-3.64), depression (OR 2.99; CI 1.17–7.62), male gender (OR 1.98; CI 1.08–3.64) and worse New York Heart Association functional class (OR 1.92; 95% CI 1.05-3.52) were independently associated with frequent thirst. About half of patients with HF and fluid restriction experienced frequent thirst in a Mediterranean area of Spain, and their thirst duration and intensity were significantly increased. Frequent thirst was associated with demographic, clinical and therapeutic variables. The results may help to identify patients with a higher risk of frequent thirst and might suggest therapeutic changes in order to diminish this troublesome symptom. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]