Wireless Pulmonary Artery Pressure Monitoring Improves Physical Activity of Heart Failure Patients

Introduction: Wireless pulmonary artery (PA) pressure monitoring allows for early detection of changes in cardiac filling pressures. Clinical utilization of wireless PA pressure monitoring leads to reduction of hospital admissions and death from heart failure. However, the impact of wireless PA pressure monitoring on behavioral and psychological outcomes in heart failure patients is not well understood. Aim of the study: We hypothesized that, following the implant of a wireless PA pressure sensor, level of physical activity would increase and perceived threat of heart failure would decrease. Methods: Physical activity and illness perception were measured via questionnaires in 9 patients (55% female), scheduled to undergo implantation of a wireless PA pressure sensor. One-month post implant, follow-up questionnaires were administered to evaluate changes in physical activity and illness perception. The Duke Activity Status Index (DASI) was used to assess physical activity, a higher score indicates greater activity. The Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (BIPQ) measures the degree to which heart failure was perceived as threatening, with a higher score reflecting a more threating view of the disease. A correlation matrix was used to assess the relationship between dependent variables (DASI and BIPQ) at the two time points. A repeated measures MANOVA was performed to evaluate change in questionnaire scores from baseline to 1 month post implant. A significant omnibus test was followed up with univariate analyses (ANOVA). Results: Baseline measures of activity (DASI) and illness perception (BIPQ) were negatively correlated (r = -0.54, P = .02); suggesting higher level of physical activity was associated with a more positive outlook on managing heart failure. A repeated measures MANOVA with DASI and BIPQ scores entered as dependent variables was significant (Pillais' Trace = 0.71, F(2, 7) = 8.42, P = .014). Follow up ANOVA revealed a significant change in DASI, F(1, 8) = 17.72, P = .003, but not BIPQ, F(1,8) = 0.27, P > .05. Self-reported physical activity increase significantly from baseline (M = 16.84) to 1 month post-implant (M = 24.43). Conclusions: Physical activity in heart failure patients improves following implantation of a wireless PA pressure sensor. However, perception of heart failure as a threating health condition was not affected by the implant. Future investigation should evaluate the longevity of activity improvement and its relationship to other relevant health outcomes for heart failure patients, such as quality of life and cardiac rehabilitation participation.