Self-care monitoring and management were inadequate in men and women with coronary heart disease, with depression and public transport use linked to worse self-care.
Self-care monitoring and management are inadequate in CHD patients, highlighting the need for targeted education and routine screening for depression and anxiety, which negatively impact self-care.
Background/Objective: Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women across most racial and ethnic groups. Effective self-care improves patient outcomes. This study aimed to examine self-care and its associated variables in men and women with coronary heart disease. Methods: This cross-sectional survey enrolled patients with coronary heart disease through convenience sampling. Data were collected via in-person interview, including sociodemographic variables (e.g., age and sex) and clinical variables (e.g., comorbidities). We also used the Charlson Comorbidity Index to measure comorbidity; the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 to measure depression; and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 to measure anxiety. Self-care was evaluated with the Self-care Coronary Heart Disease Inventory and Self-Care Self-Efficacy Scale. Descriptive and multivariate analyses were performed. This study adhered to the CROSS guidelines. Results: The sample comprised 354 patients (57.6% men and 42.4% women). Self-care monitoring and management scores were inadequate with women. Self-care self-efficacy scores were marginally adequate. Men had worse depression, comorbidities, and smoking, while women had higher anxiety and a sedentary lifestyle. Older age, low education, public transportation use, sedentary lifestyle, comorbidity, anxiety, and depression were associated with worse self-care, whereas being single and ambulance accessibility improved self-care. Conclusions: Self-care monitoring and self-care management scores were inadequate for both sexes. Depression and public transportation use were inversely associated with all self-care domains. Depression and anxiety screening should be included in routine practice. Healthcare providers should enhance self-care education for CHD patients. Interventions must address sedentary lifestyles in women and cigarette smoking in men.
Victor et al. (2026) studied this question. Self-care monitoring and management were inadequate in men and women with coronary heart disease, with depression and public transport use linked to worse self-care.