© 2007 European Society of Cardiology
Symptoms of fatigue in chronic heart failure patients: Clinical and psychological predictors
a CoRPS-Center of Research on Psychology in Somatic diseases, Tilburg University The Netherlands
b Department of Cardiology, Twee Steden Ziekenhuis Tilburg, The Netherlands
* Corresponding author. CoRPS-Centre of Research for Psychology in Somatic diseases, Tilburg University, Department of Medical Psychology, PO Box 90153, 5000 LE Tilburg, The Netherlands. Tel.: +31 13 466 2115; fax: +31 13 466 2067. E-mail address: robert.smith{at}psy-uvt.nl
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Abstract |
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Objective: To examine the role of clinical and psychological characteristics as predictors of fatigue in CHF.
Background: Little is known about predictors of fatigue in CHF. Next to heart failure characteristics, depressive symptoms and type-D personality may explain individual differences in fatigue.
Methods: At baseline, 136 CHF outpatients (age
80 years) completed a questionnaire to assess depressive symptoms, type-D personality and cardiac symptoms. At one-year follow-up, they completed the Dutch Exertion Fatigue Scale and the Fatigue Assessment Scale to assess symptoms of fatigue. Medical information was obtained from the patients' medical records.
Results: Exertion fatigue and general fatigue were identified as different manifestations of fatigue. We found that exertion fatigue at 12-month follow-up was predicted by decreased exercise capacity (β=–.35; p<.001), dyspnoea (β=24; p=.002), hypertension (β=.16; p=.03), and depressive symptoms (β=.16; p=.05). In contrast, general fatigue at 12-month follow-up was predicted by dyspnoea (β=.24; p=.003), depressive symptoms (β=.27; p<.001), type-D personality (β=17; p=.03), and sleep problems (β=.20; p=.01). Together, these variables explained 32% and 37% of the variance, respectively.
Conclusion: The present study showed that fatigue was related to both clinical and psychological characteristics. The use of this knowledge may lead to a better understanding and treatment of the clinical manifestations of fatigue in CHF.
Key Words: Symptoms of fatigue • Chronic heart failure • Type-D personality • Depressive symptoms
Received December 14, 2006; Revised March 16, 2007; Accepted May 21, 2007
The present research was supported by a VICI grant (#453-04-004) from the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research, The Hague, the Netherlands and by a grant from the Dutch Heart Foundation (#2003B038) to Johan Denollet.
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