Symptom Perception, Evaluation, Response to Symptom, and Delayed Care Seeking in Patients With Acute Heart Failure: An Observational Study.

Background: Exacerbation of heart failure (HF) requires early intervention to prevent hospital admission and to reduce mortality. Early care seeking requires that patients perceive symptoms, accurately evaluate perceived symptoms, and respond appropriately. How perception, evaluation, and response to symptoms are associated with delay in seeking care for worsening symptoms has rarely been studied.