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Predictors of exercise capacity and everyday activity in older heart failure patients
Author(s) -
Witham Miles D.,
Argo Ishbel S.,
Johnston Derek W.,
Struthers Allan D.,
McMurdo Marion E.T.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
european journal of heart failure
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.149
H-Index - 133
eISSN - 1879-0844
pISSN - 1388-9842
DOI - 10.1016/j.ejheart.2005.03.008
Subject(s) - medicine , heart failure , physical therapy , depression (economics) , activities of daily living , analysis of variance , cohort , multivariate analysis , physical activity , gerontology , economics , macroeconomics
Background: Exercise capacity and daily activity are key outcomes for older, frail heart failure patients. Little is known about the determinants of these outcomes in this patient group. Aims: To explore predictors of exercise capacity and daily activity in older, frail heart failure patients. Methods: Analysis of prospectively collected data from a cohort of 82 patients aged 70 years and over, enrolled in a randomised controlled trial of exercise in heart failure patients. Pathophysiological, demographic, psychological and social factors were analysed by multivariate regression to determine predictors of exercise capacity (6‐min walk distance) and daily activity (daily accelerometer counts). Results: Between 49% and 55% of the variance in 6‐min walk distance was explained by variables including New York Heart Association class, depression score, attitude to ageing and use of walking aids. Only 11% to 26% of the variance in accelerometer scores was explained by the model; 6‐min walk distance was the only consistent predictor of daily activity. Conclusions: Physical, psychological and attitudinal variables contribute to variance of the 6‐min walk. Six‐minute walk distance predicts a small amount of the variance in daily activity, but the majority of variance in daily activity remains unexplained and requires further investigation.