title: Health-related quality of life in pacemaker patients: a single and multidimensional self-rated health comparison study.
abstract: Since implantation of the first permanent pacemaker in 1958, significant advances have been made in pacemaker technology. To date, however, health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in a large pacemaker population has not been investigated. With dwindling clinical resources, it is important to study HRQoL in a pacemaker population in a reliable and straightforward manner. This study aimed to determine and compare single and multidimensional self-rated health (SRH) in a pacemaker population in terms of sociodemographic characteristics, pacemaker mode and symptoms. The findings showed that irrespective of whether the perspective was single or multidimensional, this Swedish pacemaker population (n=697) with a mean age of 76 years had an acceptable HRQoL. Men, aged 65-84 years, persons who were cohabiting, who had their own dwelling, who had a DDD or who had a pacemaker for <or=3 and 4-7 years experienced better HRQoL. Efforts need to be made for women, single persons, the elderly and retired persons. In conclusion, the SRH of a pacemaker population can be trustworthy established by means of a single-dimensional SRH question.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, County Hospital Ryhov, Jönköping S-551 85, Sweden. dan.malm@ltjkog.se
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Malm
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Svensson
authors.forename: J-E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Karlsson
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fridlund
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000628:therapy*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial; D011788:Quality of Life; D012647:Self-Assessment; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors