Sodium Restricted Diets: Do They Affect the Heart Failure Patient's Perception of Quality of Life

Heart Failure (HF) is one of the leading causes of physician visits and hospitalizations in the United States each year. The American College of Cardiology Foundation, along with the American Heart Association, recommend that patients diagnosed with HF follow a sodium restricted diet (SRD) to reduce congestive symptoms. As studies continue and resources grow, there are still gaps in HF research regarding patient care, compliance, adherence, understanding, and how these concepts affect the patient's quality of life (QOL). This study attempts to provide clinically based research that determines whether or not a relationship exists between adherence to an SRD and QOL of patients with HF at a heart failure clinic in Northwestern Pennsylvania.