Correlation between psychosocial factors and adherence to anticoagulation therapy in patients after mechanical heart valve replacement

Abstract

Objective To explore the correlation between psychosocial factors and adherence to anticoagulation therapy in patients after mechanical heart valve replacement. Methods Totally 176 patients who received mechanical heart valve replacement and admitted in Taizhou Hospital from January 2016 to December 2017 were selected. The Warfarin awareness and anticoagulation adherence questionnaire, Self-Anxiety Scale (SAS) , Self-Depression Scale (SDS) and Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS) were used to evaluate their adherence to anticoagulation therapy and psychosocial factors. The correlation between their adherence to anticoagulation therapy and psychosocial factors was analyzed. Results The 176 patients showed good adherence to anticoagulation therapy. Their Warfarin awareness, SAS, SDS and SSRS scores averaged (13.27±3.59) , (44.14±8.47) , (45.36±10.11) and (44.38±8.81) , respectively. According to Pearson correlation analysis, the patients' adherence to anticoagulation therapy was positively correlated (P<0.01) with their Warfarin awareness (r=0.621) and social support (r=0.522) and negatively correlated (P<0.01) with anxiety (r=-0.271) and depression (r=-0.319) . Conclusions The adherence to anticoagulation therapy in patients after mechanical heart valve replacement is related to many psychosocial factors. It is positively correlated with their Warfarin awareness and social support and negatively correlated with anxiety and depression. Key words: Heart valve; Anticoagulation medicine; Warfarin; Anxiety; Depression; Social support; Adherence; Replacement