Comparison of the short form (SF)-12 health status instrument with the SF-36 in patients with coronary heart disease.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether a shorter health status instrument, the short form (SF)-12, is comparable with its longer version, the SF-36, for measuring health related quality of life of patients with coronary heart disease.


METHODS
Prospective cohort study with follow up at six and 12 months.


METHODS
18 cardiac rehabilitation centres in Germany.


METHODS
Patients were enrolled at admission to the rehabilitation centres after myocardial infarction, coronary artery bypass grafting, and percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty.


METHODS
Correlation coefficients were calculated between SF-12 and SF-36 physical component summary (PCS-12/-36) and mental component summary (MCS-12/-36) scores and the respective change scores. Responsiveness to change was determined with the standardised response mean.


RESULTS
2441 patients were enrolled (78% men, mean (SD) age 60 (10) years; 22% women, 65 (10) years). Baseline PCS-12 and PCS-36 scores were highly correlated (r = 0.96, p < 0.001), as were baseline MCS-12 and MCS-36 scores (r = 0.96, p < 0.001). Similarly, change scores between baseline and 12 months were highly correlated (PCS-12/-36: r = 0.94, p < 0.001; MCS-12/-36: r = 0.95, p < 0.001). There was no difference in standardised response means between the SF-12 and SF-36 scales.


CONCLUSIONS
The SF-12 summary measures replicate well the SF-36 summary measures and show similar responsiveness to change. The SF-12 appears to be an efficient alternative to the SF-36 for the assessment of health related quality of life of patients with coronary heart disease.
Müller-Nordhorn
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Institute of Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics, Charité University Medical Center, Berlin, Germany. jacqueline.mueller-nordhorn@charite.de
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Willich
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D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / Q000534:rehabilitation; D015331:Cohort Studies; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*