Scared for the scar: fearsome impact of acute cardiovascular disease on perceived kinesiophobia (fear of movement)

Background: To assess levels of kinesiophobia (fear of movement) in patients hospitalized for acute cardiovascular disease. Hypothesis: Increased levels of kinesiophobia can be found in subjects hospitalized for acute cardiovascular disease. Methods: Seventy-four consecutive patients admitted for acute coronary syndrome and 58 for acute heart failure were enrolled in the study and assessed by the Tampa Scale for the evaluation of kinesiophobia. Subjects were compared with a reference population with stable coronary artery disease and healthy controls. Results: No significant differences were found between acute coronary syndrome and acute heart failure in terms of kinesiophobia, even considering the rates of high kinesiophobia (Tampa score >37) and the 4 groups of questionnaire items (danger, fear, avoidance, dysfunction). Differences, however, were significant comparing our population with an historical population of subjects with stable coronary artery disease and controls (43 ± 5 vs 35 ± 7 vs 33 ± 6, P < 0.0001 in both cases). A significant correlation was found between the grade of kinesiophobia in the Tampa Scale and the age of subjects (r = 0.27, P = 0.001) and inversely with level of education (r = −0.33, P < 0.0001). Conclusions: Increased levels of kinesiophobia can be found in subjects hospitalized for acute cardiovascular disease. Kinesiophobia is related to age and education. Kinesiophobia should be carefully considered in subjects hospitalized in acute cardiac care units.