Associations Between Psychological Distress and Hair Cortisol Concentration in Older Adults With Heart Failure

Heart failure (HF) is a chronic condition that causes progressive functional decline affecting 6.7 million individuals in the United States.1 It is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality, often leading to diminished quality of life and increased health care utilization.2 Patients with HF experience psychological distress (stress, anxiety, depression) with concerns about their future, symptom burden, and diminished quality of life, which may further contribute to symptom exacerbation, rehospitalization, and mortality.