Mental health and physical activities among heart failure patients

Abstract

Background: Changes in heart structure result in a decrease in the ability to pump blood, thereby impacting tissue perfusion. This condition triggers fatigue so that patients suffer from limitations in carrying out physical activities.

Purpose: To find out the relationship between mental health and the ability to perform physical activity in heart failure patients.

Method: The study employed a quantitative design with a cross-sectional approach on 140 heart failure patients. The researcher applied a purposive technique in determining samples. Data collection lasted for 3 months starting from October to December 2023 at the Cardiac Clinic of Dr. Moewardi Hospital, Surakarta. The researcher administered the depression anxiety stress scale-42 (DASS 42) instrument to assess mental health, and the international physical activity questionnaire (IPAQ) to assess the ability to perform physical activities. For relationship analysis among variables, the researcher used the Spearman test with a significance <0.005.

Results: The results showed a relationship between depression and physical activity (p=0.001), anxiety and physical activity (p=0.002), and stress and physical activity (p=0.002).

Conclusion: The state of mental health in heart failure patients has a relationship in their ability carrying out activities.