Socioeconomic inequalities in quality of life and psychological outcomes among cardiac patients.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this article is to explore socioeconomic inequalities in the psychological characteristics (psychological well-being, perceived mental health status) and perceived quality of life among cardiac patients.


METHODS
A structured interview was conducted with 362 patients (32% women, mean age 56 +/- 7.3 years) referred for coronary angiography. The GHQ-28 was used to measure psychological well-being, the SF-36 for perceived mental health status. Income and education indicated socioeconomic position. Logistic regressions were employed, adjusted for age, gender, functional status and severity of disease.


RESULTS
Patients with low income or education had a higher probability of having poor psychological well-being compared to participants with high income or education (OR 5.5,CI 2.32-12.80; OR 3.1,CI 1.52-6.37 resp.), and were also more likely to have worse mental health status (OR2.9,CI 1.02-8.51;OR 4.8,CI 1.36-16.99 resp.), and low quality of life (OR 2.9,CI 1.02-8.51; OR 4.8,CI 1.36-16.99 resp.).


CONCLUSIONS
Socioeconomic status was found to be negatively associated with the psychological outcomes and quality of life among cardiac patients. Socioeconomic inequalities should be taken into account when designing suitably-adapted interventions focusing on psychosocial factors among cardiac patients.
Jessenius Medical Faculty in Martin, Comenius University, Department of non- medical studies, Martin, 03608 Slovakia. zuzanaskodova@yahoo.com
Zuzana
Z
Skodova
Iveta
I
Nagyova
Jitse P
JP
van Dijk
Adriana
A
Sudzinova
Helena
H
Vargova
Jaroslav
J
Rosenberger
Berrie
B
Middel
Martin
M
Studencan
Sijmen A
SA
Reijneveld
D017023:Coronary Angiography; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000191:economics* / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008609:Mental Status Schedule; D008875:Middle Aged; D011203:Poverty; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D012923:Social Class