Fatigue in Older Adults Post Myocardial Infarction

Abstract

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Objective. The purpose of this study was to comprehensively examine putative factors that may independently contribute to fatigue and subsequent persistence of fatigue in elderly adults 6-8 months post myocardial infarction (MI). Studies suggest cardiac function, comorbidities, daytime sleepiness, depression, anemia, interleukins, and social support are correlates of fatigue; however, no studies have systematically examined these factors 6 months post MI in an aging population. Methods. Study participants included 49 women and men (N=98) ages 65 to 91 who were 6-8 months post MI. Data collection included the Demographic Health Status Questionnaire (heart rate, blood pressure, body mass index, medications), Fatigue-Related Comorbidity Scale, Revised Piper Fatigue Scale, Epworth Sleepiness Scale, Geriatric Depression Scale, Social Provisions Scale and venous blood tests (b-natriuretic peptide, hemoglobin, interleukin-6). Results. Fatigue persisted after MI in 76% of older men and women with no difference by sex. Only depression scores (Ptrend=.0004) and mean arterial pressure (Ptrend=.015) were found to be linearly independent predictors for fatigue, controlling for age, Il-6 levels, and body mass index.Conclusions. Post MI depression and mean arterial blood pressure are important to assess when examining fatigue post MI in older populations.

Keywords

• Aging
• Depression
• Fatigue
• Interleukin-6
• Myocardial Infarction