title: A study to evaluate the prevalence and determinants of stress coping strategies in heart failure patients in Poland (CAPS-LOCK-HF sub-study).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to evaluate the prevalence and determinants of different stress coping strategies in Polish patients suffering from heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFREF).
  
  
  METHODS
  This manuscript is a sub-study of the CAPS-LOCK-HF multicentre psychological status assessment of patients with HFREF. Patients with > six-month history of HFREF and clinical stability for ≥ three months and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) < 45% were enrolled in the study. Demographic and clinical variables were obtained from medical records, while a standardised Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS) was applied to all subjects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study comprised 758 patients (599 men; 79%) with a median age of 64 years (IQR 58-71). Median LVEF was 33% (25-40). Subjects most commonly used task-oriented coping strategies (median CISS score 55 points; IQR 49-61), followed by avoidance (45 points; 39-50) and emotion-oriented coping strategies (41 points; 34-48). Distraction-based avoidance coping strategies (20 points; 16-23) were more pronounced than social diversion strategies (16 points; 14-19). Multiple regression analysis showed that higher New York Heart Association (NYHA) class and lower systolic blood pressure were independent predictors of task-oriented style. Emotion-oriented coping was more common among females and higher NYHA classes, and in patients who did not take angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. Patients who used avoidance-oriented strategies were more frequently those in sinus rhythm on assessment and those who had less history of neoplastic disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with HFREF most commonly use favourable task-oriented coping strategies. However, female patients and those with higher NYHA classes tend to use potentially detrimental emotion-oriented coping strategies.
authors.forename: Łukasz J
authors.initials: ŁJ
authors.lastname: Krzych
authors.affiliation: I Katedra i Klinika Kardiologii Śląski Uniwersytet Medyczny w Katowicach. wybraniec@os.pl.
authors.forename: Maciej T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Wybraniec
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Siennicka
authors.forename: Belinda
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lees
authors.forename: Kinga
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gościńska-Bis
authors.forename: Maciej
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wójcik
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Błaszczyk
authors.forename: Filip M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Szymański
authors.forename: Michał
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Orszulak
authors.forename: Błażej
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Michalski
authors.forename: Karol
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kamiński
authors.forename: Grzegorz
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kopeć
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hrynkiewicz-Szymańska
authors.forename: Ewa A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Jankowska
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors
keywords: CISS; HFREF; coping inventory for stressful situations; heart failure; stress coping