Sensation of Dyspnea and Experience of Patients With Heart Failure

Sensation of Dyspnea and Experience of Patients With Decompensated Heart Failure Undergoing an Early Mobilization Protocol With Immersive Virtual Reality: a Clinical Trial Protocol

This randomized clinical trial aims to evaluate patients with decompensated heart failure undergoing an early mobilization protocol with the use of immersive virtual reality glasses compared with patients undergoing the same protocol but without immersive virtual reality. The primary outcome will be the sensation of difficulty breathing, and the secondary outcome will be whether this technology provided a positive experience for patients in the intervention group that was superior to that of patients in the control group.

This randomized clinical trial aims to assess the sensation of dyspnea in patients undergoing an early mobilization protocol with immersive virtual reality and their experience using this technology. The study population consists of patients with acute decompensated heart failure in an intensive care unit at a teaching hospital. The 3-day protocol will include active exercises with an in-bed cycle ergometer, orthostasis, and ambulation. The intervention group will perform all exercises using virtual reality glasses. The variables will be collected before and after each intervention.

Inclusion Criteria - Patients with 18 years or older

• Being hospitalized for 24 hours or more
• Diagnosis of acute heart failure decompensated
• Being lucid and colaborative

Exclusion Criteria:

• Mechanical ventilation or circulatory support
• Neurodegenerative diseases
• Pregnant patients
• Hemodynamic instability at baseline
• Score on the Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion Scale Borg ≥ 4 at rest
• High risk of falls
• Difficulty communicating
• Not adapt with the immersive virtual reality glasses