Health-related quality of life: The impact of diagnostic angiography.
BACKGROUND
Little is known regarding the effects of index angiograms on health-related quality of life related to angiographic outcome, that is, positive or negative for coronary heart disease (CHD).


METHODS
A longitudinal, comparative design was used. Ninety-three patients underwent initial angiography and completed questionnaires (Cardiac-Quality of Life Index, Short Form-36 mental and physical, and Cardiac Attitudes Index) before, 1 week and 1 year after angiography. Data were evaluated with linear regression and analysis of variance.


RESULTS
Fifty-five patients were CHD positive (age 65.3 ± 10.7 years, 49% were female), and 38 patients were CHD negative (age 59.5 ± 12 years, 53% were female). Compared with CHD-positive patients over 1 year, CHD-negative patients reported lower scores on the Cardiac-Quality of Life Index (P < .008), Short Form-36 mental and physical measures (P = .004), and Cardiac Attitudes Index (P = .05).


CONCLUSIONS
CHD-negative patients experienced lower health-related quality of life and lower perceived control than CHD-positive patients. After an index angiogram, a negative finding may not be sufficient to relieve negative emotions.
Eastwood
Jo-Ann
JA
School of Nursing, University of California Los Angeles, California 90095-1702, USA. jeastwoo@sonnet.ucla.edu
Doering
Lynn V
LV
Dracup
Kathleen
K
Evangelista
Lorraine
L
Hays
Ron D
RD
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012944:Social Support; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors