Medical and Psychosocial Factors Associated With Low Physical Activity and Increasing Exercise Level After a Coronary...

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Public Health
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Physical activity (PA) is crucial for recovery after coronary events, yet many patients remain inactive.
• Understanding the factors influencing PA levels in this population is essential for developing effective interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify medical and psychosocial factors associated with physical activity (PA) status in patients post-myocardial infarction (MI).
• To explore factors linked to increasing exercise levels after a coronary event.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study of 1101 patients hospitalized with myocardial infarction (MI) and/or revascularization.
• Data collected via hospital records, self-report questionnaires, and clinical examination.
• PA assessed by categorization (inactivity, low, adequate) and a continuous PA-index; self-reported PA increase measured on a Likert scale.

Main Results:

• 18% of patients were inactive, 42% had low PA, and 40% had adequate PA at 16-month follow-up.
• Low PA-index associated with smoking, obesity, unhealthy diet, depression, female sex, low education, MI diagnosis, and prior coronary events.
• Higher motivation, risk perception, and illness perception linked to increased PA levels.

Conclusions:

• Potentially modifiable factors like smoking, obesity, unhealthy diet, and depression are key barriers to sufficient PA.
• Interventions should target these factors and leverage patient motivation and perceptions to improve PA in coronary heart disease (CHD) patients.