Association of changes in health-related quality of life in coronary heart disease with coronary procedures and sociodemographic characteristics.
BACKGROUND
Few studies have focused on the association between the sociodemographic characteristics of a patient with the change in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) following invasive coronary procedures, and the results remain inconclusive. The objective of the present study was to measure the temporal changes in HRQOL of patients with coronary heart disease, and assess how these changes are associated with invasive coronary procedures and sociodemographic characteristics.


METHODS
This was a prospective study of 254 patients with angina pectoris and 90 patients with acute coronary syndrome. HRQOL was assessed with the multi-item scales and summary components of the SF-36, both 6 weeks and 2 years after baseline hospitalization in 1998. Paired t-tests and multiple regression analyses were used to assess temporal changes in HRQOL and to identify the associated factors.


RESULTS
Physical components of HRQOL had improved most during the 2 years following invasive coronary procedures. Our findings indicated that patients with angina pectoris who were younger, male, and more educated were most likely to increase their HRQOL following invasive coronary procedures. When adjusting for baseline HRQOL scores, invasive coronary procedures and sociodemographic characteristics did not explain temporal changes in patients with acute coronary syndrome, possibly due to higher comorbidity.


CONCLUSIONS
Sociodemographic characteristics should be taken into account when comparing and interpreting changes in HRQOL scores in patients with and without invasive coronary procedures.
Norwegian Health Services Research Centre, P.O. Box 7004, St Olavs plass 0130, Oslo, Norway. marijke.veenstra@nhsrc.no
Marijke
M
Veenstra
Kjell I
KI
Pettersen
Arnfinn
A
Rollag
Knut
K
Stavem
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012044:Regression Analysis; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires