CEA Nursing Practice Exam

A patient with an ejection fraction of 35% is symptomatic during daily activities. This suggests which New York Heart Association classification?

1. Class I

2. Class III

3. Class IV

4. Class II

The correct answer is: Class III

A patient with an ejection fraction of 35% who is symptomatic during daily activities indicates a more advanced stage of heart failure. The New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification categorizes heart failure based on the degree of limitation in physical activity and the severity of symptoms. Class III is defined by patients who experience marked limitation in physical activity. They are comfortable at rest but experience symptoms such as fatigue, palpitations, or dyspnea with minimal exertion, such as walking or performing everyday tasks. The ejection fraction of 35% is significantly low, suggesting that the heart is not pumping effectively, leading to symptoms that inhibit the patient's usual activities. This aligns with the conditions described in Class III. In contrast, patients classified under Class I have no limitations in physical activity, while those in Class II experience slight limitations but are generally comfortable at rest. Class IV consists of patients who are unable to carry out any physical activity without discomfort and may have symptoms even at rest. Hence, Class III is the correct classification for the patient in this scenario, as they are symptomatic during daily activities but do not exhibit symptoms at rest.