Health-related quality of life after myocardial infarction, does choice of method make a difference?
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to compare health-related quality of life (HRQoL) scores obtained from the instrument Short Form (SF)-36 through the so-called SF-6D utilities, and those obtained from 15D, in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), and to evaluate the consequences in estimation of quality adjusted life years (QALYs).


METHODS
This was a sub-study of the Norwegian District Treatment of STEMI, in which patients with STEMI treated with tenecteplase, were randomized to early angioplasty or standard management (n = 266). HRQoL data were collected at all visits (0, 1, 3, 7 and 12 months). All patients with complete data were included (n = 248).


RESULTS
The score range was 0.33-1.0 for SF-6D and 0.49-1.0 for 15D. Mean utility scores from 15D were higher and had different distribution compared to scores from SF-6D. Mean QALY for the whole group was higher using 15D than SF-6D (0.89 vs. 0.77). The incremental number of QALYs with early angioplasty compared to standard treatment was 0.005 (95% CI: - 0.018 to 0.028) using SF-6D, and 0.004 (95% CI: - 0.010 to 0.018) using the 15D instrument.


CONCLUSIONS
Choice of instrument may influence HRQoL scores, but not necessarily the gain in QALYs.
Department of Medicine, Innlandet Hospital Trust , Lillehammer , Norway.
Ellen
E
Bøhmer
Ivar S
IS
Kristiansen
Harald
H
Arnesen
Sigrun
S
Halvorsen
D000368:Aged; D017130:Angioplasty; D005260:Female; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D009664:Norway; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D019057:Quality-Adjusted Life Years; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D000077785:Tenecteplase; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy; D013997:Time Factors; D061665:Time-to-Treatment; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator; D000077785:Tenecteplase
SF-6D; Sintonen 15D; coronary heart disease; quality of life; quality-adjusted life years; randomized controlled trial