title: Factors influencing health-related quality of life after primary percutaneous coronary intervention for ST-elevation myocardial infarction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study compared health-related quality of life (HRQOL) between patients aged ≥ 70 and <70 years at 4 weeks and 6 months after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) and examined predictors of HRQOL.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  HRQOL is an important patient outcome following PPCI for ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) including pre-hospital field triage.
  
  
  METHODS
  A comparative cohort design was conducted on STEMI patients undergoing PPCI. HRQOL was measured using the Medical Outcomes Short Form-12 (SF-12) and the Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ) at 4 weeks and 6 months post-PPCI.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HRQOL improved significantly from 4 weeks to 6 months in all aspects measured except anginal frequency and mental health. Patients aged ≥ 70 years had poorer physical HRQOL (SF-12) and physical limitations (SAQ), but better mental HRQOL (SF-12), angina frequency and QOL (SAQ) at both time points. Age, length of hospital stay, gender, partnership status and number of stents deployed are independent predictors of HRQOL improvement over time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  People ≥ 70 years reported better cardiac-specific quality of life, primarily from angina relief and improved mental function, despite worse physical limitations. HRQOL assessment is an important gauge of health status after PPCI for STEMI.
authors.affiliation: Royal North Shore Hospital, Department of Cardiology, Sydney, NSW, 2065, Australia; University of Technology, Sydney, NSW, 2007, Australia. Electronic address: soon.soohoo@health.nsw.gov.au.
authors.forename: Soo Hoo Soon
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Yeng
authors.affiliation: University of Sydney, Charles Perkins Centre and Sydney Nursing School, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia. Electronic address: robyn.gallagher@sydney.edu.au.
authors.forename: Robyn
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gallagher
authors.affiliation: University of Technology Sydney, Faculty of Health, Sydney, NSW, 2007, Australia. Electronic address: doug.elliott@uts.edu.au.
authors.forename: Doug
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Elliott
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D062645:Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; D011788:Quality of Life
keywords: Elderly; Health-related quality of life; Older; Percutaneous coronary intervention; Quality of life; ST-elevation myocardial infarction