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Symptoms of fatigue in chronic heart failure patients: Clinical and psychological predictors
Author(s) -
Smith Otto R.F.,
Michielsen Helen J.,
Pelle Aline J.,
Schiffer Angelique A.,
Winter Jobst B.,
Denollet Johan
Publication year - 2007
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.2007.05.016
Subject(s) - medicine , heart failure , exertion , chronic fatigue , type d personality , physical therapy , depressive symptoms , chronic fatigue syndrome , depression (economics) , psychiatry , anxiety , economics , macroeconomics
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.