Cognitive deficits and self-care behaviors in elderly adults with heart failure

Figures & data

Table 1 Patients’ sociodemographic and clinical characteristics (n=270)

Characteristic	Mean (±SD)	Median (quartiles)
Age (years)	72.57 (±8.23)	71 (66–79)
Duration of the illness (years)	6 (±4.76)	4.5 (3–7.75)
LVEF (%)	44.64 (±11.7)	42 (38–54)
Number of hospitalizations in the previous year	2.13 (±1.69)	2 (1–3)
	n	%
Sex
Women	138	51.11
Men	132	48.89
Residence
Urban	182	67.41
Rural	88	32.59
Education
Primary or vocational	133	49.26
High school	90	33.33
College/university	47	17.41
Relationship status
Single	117	43.33
In a relationship	153	56.67
NYHA class
NYHA I	10	3.70
NYHA II	113	41.85
NYHA III	91	33.70
NYHA IV	56	20.74
Medication
ACE inhibitors	174	64.44
Diuretics	227	84.07
Glycosides	57	21.11
Beta-blockers	177	65.56
CCBs	2	0.74
ARBs	10	3.70

Abbreviations: ARBs, angiotensin receptor blockers; ACE inhibitor, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor; CCBs, calcium-channel blockers; LVEF, left ventricular ejection fraction; NYHA, New York Heart Association Functional Classification.

Table 2 Sociodemographic and clinical factors in relation to MMSE and EHFScBS-9 scores (n=270)

Factor	Correlation with MMSE				Correlation with EHFScBS-9
	CC	p-value	CD	CS	CC	p-value	CD	CS
Age (years)	−0.552	<0.001	Negative	Moderate	−0.2	0.001	Negative	Very weak
Duration of the illness (years)	−0.323	<0.001	Negative	Weak	−0.131	0.032	Negative	Very weak
LVEF (%)	0.222	<0.001	Positive	Very weak	0.223	<0.001	Positive	Very weak
Number of hospitalizations in the previous year	−0.268	<0.001	Negative	Very weak	−0.401	<0.001	Negative	Weak

Abbreviations: CC, correlation coefficient; CD, correlation direction; CS, correlation strength; EHFScBS-9, European Heart Failure Self-care Behavior Scale – nine item; LVEF, left ventricular ejection fraction; MMSE, Mini Mental State Examination.

Table 3 Variables affecting MMSE and EHFScBS-9 scores (n=270)

Variable	Variables affecting MMSE				Variables affecting EHFScBS-9
	Parameter	SE	t	p-value	Parameter	SE	t	p-value
EHFScBS-9/MMSE (points)	0.029	0.011	2.625	0.009	0.918	0.35	2.625	0.009
Age (years)	−0.165	0.034	−4.807	<0.001	0.076	0.201	0.377	0.706
Duration of the illness (years)	−0.003	0.051	−0.061	0.952	0.31	0.288	1.074	0.284
LVEF (%)	−0.015	0.024	−0.61	0.542	−0.08	0.134	−0.595	0.553
Number of hospitalizations in the previous year	−0.173	0.159	−1.085	0.279	−2.958	0.876	−3.376	0.001
Sex
Women – reference
Men	0.839	0.477	1.759	0.08	−6.716	2.663	−2.523	0.012
Residence
Urban – reference
Rural	1.272	0.508	2.504	0.013	−1.864	2.887	−0.646	0.519
Education
Primary or vocational – reference
High school	1.282	0.531	2.415	0.016	5.666	2.994	1.892	0.06
College/university	2.193	0.696	3.149	0.002	12.261	3.913	3.134	0.002
Relationship status
Single – reference
In a relationship	1.298	0.51	2.546	0.012	9.612	2.837	3.388	0.001
NYHA class
NYHA I–II – reference
NYHA III	−0.656	0.596	−1.1	0.272	−8.017	3.319	−2.415	0.016
NYHA IV	−2.308	0.83	−2.782	0.006	−13.554	4.653	−2.913	0.004

Notes: The R² coefficient for the model was 48.61%, meaning that the variables included in the model account for 48.61% of variance in MMSE scores; the remaining 51.39% depends on variables not included in the model or random factors. The R² coefficient for the model was 40.60%, meaning that the variables included in the model account for 40.60% of variance in EHFSc scores; the remaining 59.40% depends on variables not included in the model or random factors.

Abbreviations: EHFScBS-9, European Heart Failure Self-care Behavior Scale – nine item; LVEF, left ventricular ejection fraction; MMSE, Mini Mental State Examination; NYHA, New York Heart Association Functional Classification.