# Influencing factors of physical activity among young and middle-aged patients with coronary heart disease: a multicenter cross-sectional study

## TL;DR

This study finds that young and middle-aged heart disease patients are not meeting physical activity guidelines, with factors like fear and fatigue playing a role.

## Contribution

Identifies specific physiological, psychological, and social factors influencing physical activity in young and middle-aged coronary heart disease patients.

## Key findings

- Only 34.36% of patients met recommended physical activity levels.
- Fear of movement, low self-efficacy, and fatigue were significant barriers to physical activity.
- Family support and hemoglobin levels also influenced physical activity levels.

## Abstract

To investigate the level of physical activity (PA) and influencing factors among young and middle-aged patients with coronary heart disease (CHD).

A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 326 young and middle-aged patients with CHD in four tertiary hospitals in Hubei Province. This study adopted the general information questionnaire, International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Long (IPAQ-L), Fear of Activity in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease (Fact-CAD), Exercise Self-Efficacy Scale (ESES), Family Adaptation, Partnership, Growth, Affection, Resolve index (APGAR), The Piper Fatigue Scale-12 (PFS-12), and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 items (PHQ-9) as assessment tools. According to whether the level of PA met the recommended standard of the guideline, the participants were divided into the qualified group (n = 112) and the non-qualified group (n = 214). Univariate analysis and binary logistic regression analysis were performed using SPSS 25.0 to summarize the influencing factors of patients' PA.

The rate of PA compliance among young and middle-aged patients with CHD was 34.36%. Binary logistic regression analysis showed that hemoglobin, glycated hemoglobin, fear of movement, exercise self-efficacy, family care, and fatigue were the influencing factors of PA among young and middle-aged patients with CHD (P < 0.05).

Young and middle-aged patients with CHD generally exhibit low levels of PA, a result of combined physiological, psychological, and social factors. Healthcare professionals should develop multi-dimensional intervention programmes to improve the level of patients' PA, thereby achieving cardiac rehabilitation.