Predictors of self-care behaviors in individuals with heart failure in Brazil

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Public Health
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Heart failure (HF) management requires active patient participation.
• Understanding factors influencing self-care is crucial for improving patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify predictors of self-care behaviors in individuals diagnosed with heart failure.
• To inform targeted interventions for enhancing patient self-management.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involved 405 heart failure patients.
• Self-care behaviors were measured using the Self-Care of Heart Failure Index.
• Logistic regression analyzed sociodemographic and clinical predictors of self-care maintenance, management, and confidence.

Main Results:

• Self-care maintenance predictors: number of children, left ventricular ejection fraction, positive disease perception, obesity, and dialytic chronic kidney disease.
• Self-care management predictors: married children and sleep apnea.
• Self-care confidence predictors: family income, prior hospitalizations, medication doses, and sedentarism.

Conclusions:

• Specific patient characteristics predict self-care behaviors in heart failure.
• Interventions should focus on intensified education and social support for patients with identified risk factors.