Arq. Bras. Cardiol. 2020; 114(4): 701-707
Dynamic Balance and Mobility Explain Quality of Life in HFpEF, Outperforming All the Other Physical Fitness Components
Cristine Schmidt
, Mário Santos, Lucimere Bohn, Bruno Miguel Delgado
, Daniel Moreira-Gonçalves, Adelino Leite-Moreira, José Oliveira
This Original Article is referred by the Short Editorial "Time to Include Balance Training in the Cardiac Rehabilitation Programs of Patients with Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction".
Abstract
Background
Physical fitness is an important determinant of quality of life (QoL) in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) patients. However, how the different physical fitness components correlate with the specific dimensions of QoL in HFpEF patients remains unknown.
Objective
To evaluate the association between different physical fitness components and QoL dimensions in HFpEF patients, and, assess which physical fitness components were independently associated to QoL.
Methods
Patients with HFpEF were assessed for physical fitness [dynamic balance and mobility (8-foot-up-and go test), upper body strength (handgrip), cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) (6-minute-walking test) and body composition (body mass index)] and for QoL (Minnesota Living With Heart Failure Questionnaire). Partial correlation was used to verify the association between physical fitness components and QoL dimensions. The determination of independent predictors in QoL dimensions was assessed through stepwise multivariate linear regression analysis. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05.
Results
Both CRF and dynamic balance and mobility are significantly associated with the total score and physical dimensions of QoL (p<0.05), but only dynamic balance and mobility were concomitantly associated with the emotional dimension (r=0.597; p=0.004). Dynamic balance and mobility were independently associated with total score (β=0.651; r2=0.424; p=0.001), physical (β=0.570; r2=0.324; p=0.04) and emotional (β=0.611; r2=0.373 p=0.002) dimensions of QoL.
Conclusion
Our data suggests that dynamic balance and mobility better assess QoL than CRF, which is commonly measured in clinical practice. Whether interventions specifically targeting dynamic balance and mobility have different impacts on QoL remains unknown. (Arq Bras Cardiol. 2020; 114(4):701-707)
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