Physical and mental component summaries score of the SF-36 in coronary patients.
BACKGROUND
The aim of the study was to determine the clinical and sociodemographic factors related to the physical and mental components of the health-related quality of life (HRQL) in coronary patients.


METHODS
We studied 132 patients diagnosed with Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI) and unstable angina admitted to a cardiology unit over a period of 18 months. The HRQL was assessed with the Short Form 36 Health Questionnaire (SF-36) and the presence of possible mental disorders was measured using the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28). In order to study the variables related to both physical and mental summary components of the SF-36, two multiple linear regression models were constructed with the physical (PCS) and the mental component summary (MCS) as outcome variables.


RESULTS
The GHQ-28 score > or = 6 was the variable most associated with the lowest PCS in the patients studied. Moreover in the patients with a personal history of coronary heart disease (CHD), age tended to increase the PCS of the HRQL, whereas in those with no such history, age diminished the PCS score. For the MCS, not being married, being of female sex, having GHQ-28 scores > or = 6 and being of younger age were the four variables most related to the lowest MCS score in the patients studied.


CONCLUSIONS
Age, sex, marital status, personal history of CHD and the presence of a possible mental disorder were the factors most related to HRQL in the coronary patients studied. Focusing medical attention on these groups could contribute to improving their quality of life.
Soto
María
M
Hospital Universitario Puerta del Mar de Cádiz, Servicio de Medicina Preventiva, Spain. mariasoto@andaluciajunta.es
Failde
Inmaculada
I
Márquez
Soledad
S
Benítez
Encarnación
E
Ramos
Ignacio
I
Barba
Antonio
A
López
Fernando
F
D000368:Aged; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D012923:Social Class; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires