# The influence of lifestyle habits on the perception of vestibular symptoms in patients with heart failure

## TL;DR

This study found that harmful lifestyle habits like alcohol use and poor diet worsen how patients with heart failure and dizziness perceive their symptoms.

## Contribution

The study is the first to show a link between lifestyle factors and symptom perception in heart failure patients with vestibular issues.

## Key findings

- Alcohol consumption was linked to higher emotional and total dizziness scores.
- A balanced diet was associated with better emotional scores in heart failure patients.
- Regular physical activity improved emotional and total quality of life scores.

## Abstract

To determine whether lifestyle habits influence the self-perception of cardiac symptoms and dizziness in patients with heart failure.

This is a cross-sectional, retrospective, analytical study approved by the Research Ethics Committee (approval no. 4,462,519). The study analyzed 34 medical records of patients with a functional diagnosis of peripheral vestibular dysfunction, followed up at a cardiology outpatient clinic, collecting data on sex, age, body mass index, and lifestyle habits such as smoking, alcohol consumption, nutritional monitoring, and regular physical activity. It also analyzed scores from the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) and the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ). The data were subjected to inferential statistical analysis using analysis of variance (ANOVA).

The patients’ mean age was 55.9 years, with a predominance of males (79.41%). Statistical differences were observed between the DHI emotional and total scores and alcohol consumption, and between the MLHFQ emotional scores and balanced diet. Regular physical activity differed statistically from the DHI and MLHFQ emotional impact and the total MLHFQ scores.

Harmful lifestyle habits such as alcohol consumption, poor diet, and a sedentary lifestyle negatively impacted the quality of life and self-perception of cardiological and vestibular symptoms in patients with heart failure and dizziness.

verificar se os hábitos de vida exercem influência na autopercepção dos sintomas cardiológicos e da tontura em pacientes com insuficiência cardíaca (IC).

estudo transversal, retrospectivo e analítico, aprovado pelo Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa (parecer nº 4.462.519), no qual foi realizado o estudo de 34 prontuários de pacientes com diagnóstico funcional de disfunção vestibular periférica, acompanhados em um ambulatório de cardiologia. Foram levantados dados sobre gênero, idade, índice de massa corporal (IMC) e hábitos de vida como: tabagismo, etilismo, acompanhamento nutricional e prática regular de atividade física. Também foram analisados os escores dos questionários Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) e Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ). Os dados foram submetidos à análise estatística inferencial, por meio da análise de variância (ANOVA).

A média de idade dos pacientes foi de 55,9 anos, com predomínio do gênero masculino (79.41%). Observou-se diferença estatística entre os escores dos aspectos emocionais e totais, do DHI, com o hábito etilismo e ainda, do aspecto emocional do MLHFQ com a manutenção da dieta equilibrada. A prática regular de atividade física apresentou diferença estatística quando comparada com o impacto emocional, do DHI e do MLHFQ, bem como com os escores totais do MLHFQ.

Hábitos de vida prejudiciais, como o etilismo, a alimentação inadequada e o sedentarismo, impactaram negativamente a qualidade de vida e a autopercepção dos sintomas cardiológicos e vestibulares em pacientes com IC que apresentavam tontura.