title: Field triage to primary percutaneous coronary intervention: Factors influencing health-related quality of life for patients aged ≥70 and <70 years with non-complicated ST-elevation myocardial infarction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine clinical and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) outcomes and predictors of HRQOL for uncomplicated field triage ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients aged ≥70 years and <70 years after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI).
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Pre-hospital field triage for PPCI is associated with lower mortality but the impact of age and other factors on HRQOL remains unknown.
  
  
  METHODS
  77 field triage STEMI patients were assessed for HRQOL using the Short Form-12 (SF-12) and the Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ) at 4 weeks and 6 months after PPCI.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Regression analysis showed improvements in SF-12 domains and angina stability for older people. Age predicted lower physical function (p = 0.001) and better SAQ QOL at 6 months (p = 0.003).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Age, length of hospitalization, recurrent angina and hypertension were important predictors of HRQOL with PPCI. Assessment of HRQOL combined with increased support for physical and emotional recovery is needed to improve clinical care for field triage PPCI patients.
authors.affiliation: Royal North Shore Hospital, Department of Cardiology, Sydney, Australia; University of Technology Sydney, Faculty of Health, Sydney, Australia. Electronic address: soon.soohoo@health.nsw.gov.au.
authors.forename: Soon Yeng
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Soo Hoo
authors.affiliation: University of Sydney, Charles Perkins Centre, Sydney Nursing School, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Robyn
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gallagher
authors.affiliation: University of Technology Sydney, Faculty of Health, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Doug
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Elliott
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000503:physiopathology*; D062645:Percutaneous Coronary Intervention / Q000379:methods*; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014218:Triage
keywords: Field triage; Health-related quality of life; Percutaneous coronary intervention; Pre-hospital ECG; ST-elevation myocardial infarction