title: Health-related quality of life in European women following myocardial infarction: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Coronary heart disease is a major contributor to women's health problems.
  
  
  METHODS
  Self-perceived social support, well-being and health-related quality of life (HRQL) were documented in the cross-sectional HeartQoL survey of European women one and six months after a myocardial infarction.
  
  
  METHODS
  European women were recruited in 18 European countries and grouped into four geographical regions (Southern Europe, Northern Europe, Western Europe and Eastern Europe). Continuous socio-demographic variables and categorical variables were compared by age and region with ANOVA and χ(2), respectively; multiple regression models were used to identify predictors of social support, well-being and HRQL.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Women living in the Eastern European region rated social support, well-being and HRQL significantly lower than women in the other regions. Older women had lower physical HRQL scores than younger women. Eastern European women rated social support, well-being and HRQL significantly lower than women in the other regions. Prediction of the dependent variables (social support, well-being and HRQL) by socio-demographic factors varied by total group, in the older age group, and by region; body mass index and managerial responsibility were the most consistent significant predictors.
authors.affiliation: School of Social and Health Sciences, Halmstad University, Sweden Evy.Lidell@hh.se.
authors.forename: Evy
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lidell
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Psychology, Innsbruck Medical University, Austria.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Höfer
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Prevention, Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine, University Hospitals Inselspital, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Hugo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Saner
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health and Caring Sciences, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden.
authors.forename: Joep
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Perk
authors.affiliation: School of Social and Health Sciences, Halmstad University, Sweden.
authors.forename: Cathrine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hildingh
authors.affiliation: College of Health Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Aurora Cardiovascular Services, Aurora Medical Group, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA.
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Oldridge
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012649:Self Concept; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D044465:White People
keywords: Health-related quality of life; myocardial infarction; social support; well-being; women