Fatigue in Older Adults Postmyocardial Infarction

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 65–91 who were 6–8 months post-MI. Data collection included the demographic health status questionnaire (heart rate, blood pressure, body mass index, and 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, and interleukin-6). RESULTS: Fatigue persisted after MI in 76% of older men and women with no difference by sex. Only depression scores (P(trend) = 0.0004) and mean arterial pressure (P(trend) = 0.015) were found to be linearly independent predictors for fatigue, controlling for age, Il-6 levels, and body mass index. CONCLUSION: Post-MI depression and mean arterial blood pressure are important to assess when examining fatigue post-MI in older populations.