Adherence to Lifestyle Therapy in Patients with Chronic Heart Failure and Comorbidity

Background Influence of comorbidity on adherence to lifestyle therapy in patients  with  chronic heart failure (CHF) have not been studied yet. The aim The aim of this study was to investigate awareness and  adherence to lifestyle therapy in patient with CHF and comorbidity. Мethods 203 patients with CHF (130 males and 73 females, mean age was 61,8±9,6 years) were studied. CHF was defined according to ESC Guidelines for  the diagnosis and treatment of acute  and chronic heart failure, 2016. Charlson comorbidity index was calculated. Awareness of lifestyle modifications was determined using a questionnaire developed in our clinic and used in previous scientific studies. Quality of life, psychological state,  relation to disease were estimated. Follow-Up period was 1 year. Results The awareness about lifestyle modifications in patients with CHF ranged from 38.9% (daily control of body weight) to 87.2% (reduced intake of dietary sodium). Adherence to lifestyle therapy was from 7.9% (daily weight control) to 37.9% (reduced intake of dietary sodium). Charlson comorbidity index corrected by age  was 5.0±2.1 scores. Patients with high comorbidity (Charlson comorbidity index > 6 scores) had decreased of quality of life.  There were not differences in adherence to lifestyle therapy in patients with CHF, depending on the level of comorbidity. Nonadherence patients were characterized by sensitive type of relation to disease, emotional lability (p< 0,05). Сonclusion Nonadherence to lifestyle therapy in patients with CHF is associated with desadaptive type of relation to disease, which is more common in patients with high comorbidity.