Determination of the relationship between frailty and care dependency in geriatric individuals with heart failure

The aim of this descriptive and cross-sectional study was to determine the relationship between frailty and care dependency in geriatric individuals diagnosed with heart failure. The study was conducted between January 2023 and January 2024 in the cardiology clinics and outpatient clinics of Düzce Üniversity Health Application and Research Centre and Düzce Atatürk State Hospital. A total of 186 heart failure patients aged 65 years and over were included in the study. Data were collected using Personal and Medical Characteristics Information Form, Edmonton Frailty Scale and Care Dependency Scale, Correlation tests, parametric comparison tests and descriptive statistical methods were used to evaluate the data. In the research "G. According to the post-hoc power analysis performed at 95% confidence level using the "Power-3.1.9.2" program, the power of the study was calculated as 99.9% with an alpha value of 0.05. The mean age of the patients was 74,76±7,24 years. The mean score of the Care Dependency Scale was 64,94±17,66 and the mean score of the Edmonton Frailty Scale was 8,01±3,89. As a result of the study, it was determined that the patients had a low degree of dependence and their fragility was moderate. In addition, it was determined that 61,3% of the change in the total scores of the patients' frailty scale was explained by the total scores of care dependency scale (R2: 0.380). In line with these results, it is recommended that nurses should evaluate frailty and the care dependency of geriatric individuals with heart failure simultaneously and plan trainings in line with their needs. Key words: Care dependency, geriatrics, nursing, heart failure disease, frailty.