Abstract

Introduction: Vital exhaustion (VE), characterized by fatigue, irritability, frustration, and hopelessness, has been associated with the development and progression of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and is considered a maladaptive response to chronic stress. This study aimed to explore the association of VE with anxiety and insomnia in hospitalized patients with CVD, as well as the demographic and clinical characteristics associated with VE. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted including 200 hospitalized patients with CVD. VE was assessed using the Maastricht Questionnaire (MEQ); anxiety, using the Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS); and insomnia, using the Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS). Additionally, a structured questionnaire on clinical and demographic variables was utilized. Results: The majority of the 200 participants were men (60.7%) and aged 71–80 years (40%). The mean VE score was 21.4 ± 10.1 within score range from 0 to 40. VE was significantly associated with gender (p = 0.002), age (p = 0.006), occupation (p = 0.006), type of CVD (p < 0.001), comorbidity burden (p = 0.001), and perceived importance of written health information (p = 0.015). Higher VE scores were positively correlated with both anxiety and insomnia (p < 0.05). Conclusions: VE is closely associated with anxiety and insomnia and is influenced by key demographic and clinical factors in hospitalized patients with CVD. These findings highlight VE as a clinically relevant condition and identify distinct high-risk patient groups that may benefit from targeted assessment and management strategies.

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