Quality of life and psychological impact in patients with noncardiac chest pain.
BACKGROUND
Chest pain is common and data regarding noncardiac chest pain (NCCP) in Asia are lacking.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the differences in clinical presentations, psychologic impact, and quality of life between patients with NCCP and cardiac chest pain (CCP), and to identify any factors that impacted on these patients.


METHODS
Consecutive patients undergoing coronary angiography for the evaluation of chest pain were recruited in Hong Kong and Wuhan, China. One hundred and forty patients with abnormal and 141 patients with normal angiography were included in the study. The validated gastroesophageal reflux disease questionnaire, the Hospital Anxiety-Depression Scale, and the 12-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12) were used for assessment.


RESULTS
NCCP patients reported similar days-off work and impairment of their social life compared with those with CCP. No difference was found in the anxiety and depression scores between the 2 groups. NCCP patients with reflux symptoms had higher anxiety score (7.19 vs. 5.74, P=0.044), reported more interruption of their social life (26% vs. 5%, P<0.0001), and had taken more sick leaves (17% vs. 5%, P=0.018) compared with those without gastroesophageal reflux disease.


CONCLUSIONS
The quality of life and psychologic impact of patients with NCCP were as significant as those with CCP. NCCP patients with reflux symptoms were more anxious and were impaired in their productivity and social life.
Cheung
Ting Kin
TK
Department of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
Hou
Xiaohua
X
Lam
Kwok Fai
KF
Chen
Jie
J
Wong
Wai Man
WM
Cha
Hui
H
Xia
Harry H X
HH
Chan
Annie O O
AO
Tong
Teresa S M
TS
Leung
Gigi Y C
GY
Yuen
Man F
MF
Wong
Benjamin C Y
BC
D000041:Absenteeism; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002637:Chest Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D004526:Efficiency; D005260:Female; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life; D018582:Sick Leave; D012919:Social Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires