Autocuidado de la insuficiencia cardíaca crónica en los pacientes que asisten a cardiología en el Hospital del IESS los ceibos, año 2024 – 2025

Abstract

Introduction: Heart failure (HF) requires the integration of patient education and self-care into routine clinical management. The European Heart Failure Self-care Behaviour Scale (EHFScB-12) enables the objective assessment of maintenance behaviors and responses to decompensation. Objective: To determine the level of self-care among patients with chronic HF attending the Cardiology clinic at Hospital IESS Los Ceibos (2024–2025) and to describe its variation according to sociodemographic profile, clinical characteristics, and treatment adherence. Methods: An observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted using a structured survey administered to 186 individuals. Results: Most participants were older than 50 years; 83% resided in urban areas and 41% had completed secondary education. Multimorbidity was frequent, with hypertension (77%) and diabetes (47.8%) predominating. Medication adherence demonstrated strong performance (recognizing the correct dose “always”: 70.4%; taking medications on schedule “always”: 71%). The self-care score averaged 54.2 (SD 27.7) on a 0–100 scale, with 32% reaching an adequate level (≥70)