The benefits of thermal clothing during winter in patients with heart failure: a pilot randomised controlled trial.

ABSTRACT: To examine whether providing thermal clothing to heart failure patients improves their health during winter. A randomised controlled trial with an intervention group and a usual care group. Heart failure clinic in a large tertiary referral hospital in Brisbane, Australia. Eligible participants were those with known systolic heart failure who were over 50 years of age and lived in Southeast Queensland. Participants were excluded if they lived in a residential aged care facility, had incontinence or were unable to give informed consent. Fifty-five participants were randomised and 50 completed. Participants randomised to the intervention received two thermal hats and tops and a digital thermometer. The primary outcome was the mean number of days in hospital. Secondary outcomes were the number

SUBMITTER: Barnett AG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3641493 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature