Assessment of quality of life with 5 different scales in patients participating in comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation after acute myocardial infarction.
BACKGROUND
Measures assessing quality of life (QOL) in patients participating in comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation (CCR) have not been established in Japan.


RESULTS
To compare different types of QOL scales and to determine the impact of CCR on QOL in Japanese cardiac patients, 5 different types of questionnaires were assessed in 44 patients participating in CCR after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). After 3-month CCR, peak oxygen uptake (PVO2, p<0.01), Sickness Impact Profile (SIP) total score (p<0.05) and physical function-related QOL scores (Specific Activity Scale (SAS), p<0.01; SIP physical score, p<0.01) significantly improved, whereas psychosocial/mental aspect-related QOL scores (Ministry of Health and Welfare (MHW)-QOL score, SIP psychosocial score, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Self-rating Depression Scale) did not change on the average. However, patients with low PVO2 (<21.7 ml.min-1.kg-1) showed significant improvements in all scores after CCR, whereas patients with preserved exercise capacity showed improvements only in physical function-related scores (SAS and physical SIP). Furthermore, patients with anxiety and depression showed significant improvements in these respective measures after CCR.


CONCLUSIONS
In patients with AMI, physical function-related QOL scores improve after a 3-month CCR program, but psychosocial/mental aspect-related QOL scores improve only in those with impaired exercise tolerance or anxiety/depression. Thus, changes in QOL after CCR depend on type of QOL scale used and the baseline status of the patient. In addition, in Japanese cardiac patients MHW-QOL mainly reflects psychosocial/mental aspect-related QOL, as well as overall QOL.
Suzuki
Shoji
S
Division of Cardiology, National Cardiovascular Center, Suita, Japan.
Takaki
Hiroshi
H
Yasumura
Yoshio
Y
Sakuragi
Satoru
S
Takagi
Shuichi
S
Tsutsumi
Yoshiaki
Y
Aihara
Naohiko
N
Sakamaki
Fumio
F
Goto
Yoichi
Y
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety; D003863:Depression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D011584:Psychology; D011788:Quality of Life; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires