title: Predictors of quality of life after hospital admission for heart attack or angina.
abstract: This study tests the hypothesis that it is possible to predict people who will have a low quality of life (QOL) 6 months after hospital admission for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) or angina. Among 424 patients discharged from hospital in the Hunter Region of New South Wales with a diagnosis of AMI or angina, follow-up questionnaires were received from 303 at 6 months. Baseline data collected during hospitalisation included demographic variables and the 'emotional' factor of a disease-specific QOL measure using a modified and validated self-administered questionnaire. The full QOL measure comprises 'emotional', 'physical' and 'social' factors, each factor being assessed at the 6-month follow-up. Only baseline 'emotional' QOL score and sex predicted 6-month QOL scores in patients with AMI. Scores were consistently lower in patients with angina, in whom marital and employment status, having had a previous AMI, current cigarette smoking, the presence of cardiac failure and baseline emotional QOL were all significantly associated with the 6-month QOL scores. The assessment of simple measures during hospitalisation for angina can be helpful in predicting those who will have a low QOL 6 months later. They may represent a high-risk group at whom counselling could be directed.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Royal Newcastle Hospital, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Heller
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Valenti
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Knapp
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D002303:Cardiac Output, Low / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D003376:Counseling; D003710:Demography; D004644:Emotions; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005544:Forecasting; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D009517:New South Wales; D010343:Patient Admission; D010351:Patient Discharge; D011788:Quality of Life; D012008:Recurrence; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012649:Self Concept; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000503:physiopathology; D012917:Social Adjustment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires