Association between fatigue and self-care in patients with heart failure: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the association between fatigue, self-care, and sociodemographic and clinical variables in patients with heart failure. Method: A cross-sectional and correlational study, conducted at a university hospital in the Northeast region of Brazil. The Brazilian versions of the Dutch Fatigue Scale, Dutch Exertion Fatigue Scale, and the European Heart Failure Self-care Behavior Scale were used. The analysis included descriptive statistics and Spearman correlation. Results: Ninety-nine patients with heart failure participated. Substantial fatigue was observed in 71.7% and fatigue on exertion in 66.7% of the sample. The mean self-care score was 28.41 ± 7.98. There was no significant association between fatigue and self-care. A negative correlation was found between age and exertional and substantial fatigue, and a positive correlation was found between the duration of treatment and age. There was a positive correlation between functional capacity, exertional fatigue, and substantial fatigue. Conclusion: The findings reinforce the importance of symptom awareness and management in self-care. Health interventions are timely for promoting the quality of life of this population.