Physical resilience and its related factors in Iranian older adults with ischemic heart disease: A cross-sectional study

Background: Many biological and cultural factors are involved in the physical resilience of older adults, but these factors are not fully known and the results of studies are contradictory in this field. Objectives: The present study was conducted to determine the level of physical resilience and its associated factors in Iranian older adults with ischemic heart disease (IHD). Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 350 older adults with IHD admitted to Shahid Beheshti Hospital in Kashan, Iran, in 2018. Sampling was done consecutively. Eligible older adults completed a demographic form and the Resnick physical resilience questionnaire in the presence of the researcher. Data were analyzed using Pearson's correlation coefficient, t-test, analysis of variance, and multivariate regression. Results: A majority of the participants were female (50.6%) and mostly resided in urban areas (67.4%). The overall mean score of physical resilience was 9.57 ± 3.00 out of 15. Women, those with an unmarried child at home, those who were literate and lived in urban areas, those without comorbidities, and those who did not receive financial support from family members had significantly higher resilience scores (P < 0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that younger age (P < 0.001), better cognitive function (P = 0.006), and employment (P = 0.01) significantly predicted physical resilience. Conclusion: The average score of the participants was above 50% of the score of the physical resilience questionnaire. Our findings encourage authorities to develop comprehensive care plans including community education and more diverse care for patients with noncommunicable diseases, to increase resilience in older adults with IHD.