Predictors of readmission and health related quality of life in patients with chronic heart failure: a comparison of different psychosocial aspects.

Psychological distress is common in patients with chronic heart failure. The impact of different psychological variables on prognosis has been shown but the comparative effects of these variables remain unclear. This study examines the impact of depression, anxiety, vital exhaustion, Type D personality, and social support on prognosis in chronic heart failure patients.

Gender differences in cardiac rehabilitation outcomes: do women benefit equally in psychological health?

Background: Psychological factors are important in the etiology and prognosis of coronary heart disease (CHD). Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) aims to reduce psychological distress, besides other somatic risk factors. Studies have shown that CR is effective in reducing psychological distress, but little is known about gender-specific outcome differences.

Relation of heart rate recovery to psychological distress and quality of life in patients with chronic heart failure.

Background: Psychological distress, poor disease-specific quality of life (QoL), and reduction in vagally mediated early heart rate recovery (HRR) after exercise, all previously predicted morbidity and mortality in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). We hypothesized lower HRR with greater psychological distress and poorer QoL in CHF.

Design: All assessments were made at the beginning of a comprehensive cardiac outpatient rehabilitation intervention program.

Heart rate recovery after exercise in chronic heart failure: role of vital exhaustion and type D personality.

Objective: Vital exhaustion and type D personality previously predicted mortality and cardiac events in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). Reduced heart rate recovery (HRR) also predicts morbidity and mortality in CHF. We hypothesized that elevated levels of vital exhaustion and type D personality are both associated with decreased HRR.