Illness Intrusiveness Mediates the Relationship between Heart Failure Severity and Depression in Older Adults

Author(s)

Ashley W. LeMaire, Memorial Hospital
Amit Shahane, Emory University
Tam K. Dao, University of Houston
Jeffery L. Kibler, Nova Southeastern UniversityFollow
Jeffrey A. Cully, Baylor College of Medicine

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Journal of Applied Gerontology

ISSN

0733-4648

Publication Date

10-2012

Abstract

Depression frequently co-occurs in heart failure (HF) patients, causing significant interference and negative health outcomes. This case-controlled study explored the construct of illness intrusiveness and examined its relationship to HF severity and depression. Older veterans (n = 104) with an HF diagnosis completed a one-time assessment that included demographics, depressive symptoms (Geriatric Depression Scale), the Illness Intrusiveness Rating Scale (IIRS), and HF quality of life and functional abilities (Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire [KCCQ]). Analyses included exploratory correlations between IIRS and KCCQ items, a confirmatory factor analysis (IIRS), and formal mediational analyses. Results indicated that the IIRS had adequate internal consistency and concurrent validity, with support for its established three-factor model. Regression analyses indicated that illness intrusiveness mediated HF illness severity and depression. In conclusion, illness intrusiveness may be a better indicator of depression than illness severity (HF symptoms); thus research methods and interventions targeted at reducing illness intrusiveness merit further investigation.

DOI

10.1177/0733464810396507

Volume

31

Issue

5

First Page

608

Last Page

621

NSUWorks Citation

LeMaire, A. W., Shahane, A., Dao, T. K., Kibler, J. L., Cully, J. A. (2012). Illness Intrusiveness Mediates the Relationship between Heart Failure Severity and Depression in Older Adults. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 31(5), 608-621.
Available at: https://nsuworks.nova.edu/cps_facarticles/639