title: Depression is associated with reduced physical activity in persons with heart failure.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Reduced physical activity is common in persons with heart failure (HF). However, studies of correlates and modifiers of physical activity in this population rarely employ objective measures. Motivational and mood related factors that may exacerbate inactivity in HF patients are also rarely investigated. In this study, we examined the relationship between physical activity as assessed by accelerometry, and depression in older adults with HF.
  
  
  METHODS
  At baseline, older adults with HF (N = 96; 69.81 ± 8.79) wore an accelerometer for seven days, and completed a brief fitness assessment, neuropsychological testing, and psychosocial measures including the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II). Medical and demographic history was obtained through record review and self-report.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Accelerometer measures showed that HF patients averaged 587 minutes of sedentary time and just 0.31 minutes of vigorous activity per day. Lower daily step count was associated with poorer quality of life and reduced cognitive function. A multiple linear regression adjusting for important demographic and medical variables found that greater number of depressive symptoms on the BDI-II independently predicted lower physical activity levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Consistent with past work, the current study found that low physical activity is common in older adults with HF. Depression is an independent predictor of physical activity in older adults with HF and reduced physical activity is associated with numerous adverse psychosocial outcomes. Future studies need to determine whether treatment of depression can boost physical activity and thus improve health outcomes in this population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA. malosco@kent.edu
authors.forename: Michael L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Alosco
authors.forename: Mary Beth
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Spitznagel
authors.forename: Lindsay
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Naftali
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Raz
authors.forename: Ronald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: Lawrence H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Sweet
authors.forename: Lisa H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Colbert
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Josephson
authors.forename: Donna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Waechter
authors.forename: Joel
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.forename: Jim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rosneck
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gunstad
mesh_terms: D061725:Accelerometry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D013997:Time Factors