title: Health-related quality of life in symptomatic postmyocardial infarction patients with left ventricular dysfunction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Symptoms of postmyocardial infarction (post-MI) patients at risk for progression to heart failure are often ignored, and lack of symptom recognition or misinterpretation may diminish health-related quality of life (HRQoL). This study was conducted to evaluate the differences in HRQoL by symptom experience and determine factors that predict diminished HRQoL in post-MI patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a descriptive correlational study design, post-MI patients with left ventricular dysfunction (ejection fraction < 50%) completed face-to-face interviews for symptoms, HRQoL, covariates including self-care compliance, New York Heart Association class, and demographic and clinical questionnaires.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 105 post-MI patients participated (mean age 65 years, 79.0% male, mean ejection fraction 43.6%, New York Heart Association class III/IV 33.3%). Mean length of time after the cardiac event was 48 months. Patients reported four or more symptoms, with fatigue being the most common symptom (63.8%), followed by shortness of breath (56.2%), weakness (54.3%), and dizziness (51.4%). HRQoL was moderately poor, with a mean score of 44.38 ± 27.66. There was no significant relationship between self-care compliance and HRQoL. Patients who were female, with low monthly income, and had lower functional capacity and more symptoms had worse HRQoL, after controlling for age and length of time after the event (adjusted R(2) = 0.53, p < .001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A need for transitional care that assists post-MI patients take an active involvement in symptom monitoring arises so that they can get into the system earlier and benefit from treatment, and eventually achieve desirable HRQoL.
authors.affiliation: Heart Center, Chonnam National University Hospital, Gwangju, South Korea.
authors.forename: Ha Mi
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, Gachon University, Incheon, South Korea.
authors.forename: JinShil
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, Hanyang University, Seoul, South Korea. Electronic address: seon9772@hanayng.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Seon Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Hwang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*
keywords: heart failure; myocardial infarction; quality of life; self-care; signs and symptoms