title: Sex differences in the quality of life of patients with acute coronary syndrome treated with percutaneous coronary intervention after a 3-year follow-up.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aims of this study were to analyze the dynamics of quality of life (QoL) changes after 36 months from the percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) depending on sex and identify baseline predictors of the follow-up QoL of patients hospitalized for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and subjected to PCI.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study included 137 patients, females (n=67) and males (n=70), with ACS who underwent PCI. The QoL was assessed using the MacNew Heart Disease Health-Related Quality of Life questionnaire. The group of females scored lower in all the domains of the MacNew Heart Disease Health-Related Quality of Life questionnaire in the initial measurement (B 1), in the measurement after 6 months (B 2), and in the long-term follow-up measurement (36 months - B 3). Despite the fact that both groups achieved improved QoL, its values were higher in the males. The average growth rate of the QoL score in the period from the sixth month to 36th month was higher in females than in males. In the univariate and multivariate analyses, significant independent predictors with a negative influence on the long-term QoL score included female sex (ρ=-0.190, β=-0.21), age >60 years (ρ=-0.255, β=-0.186), and diabetes (ρ=-0.216, β=-0.216).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In a 36-month follow-up of ACS patients treated with PCI, there were no statistically significant differences in QoL between sexes. In the entire cohort, there was improvement in QoL, which was higher in the case of the females studied. For the entire group, significant independent determinants of lower QoL 3 years after ACS included female sex, age >60 years, and diabetes.
authors: Department of Clinical Nursing, Wrocław Medical University.
authors: Beata
authors: B
authors: Jankowska-Polańska
authors: Department of Clinical Nursing, Wrocław Medical University.
authors: Izabella
authors: I
authors: Uchmanowicz
authors: Department of Logistics and Transport Systems, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Wrocław University of Technology.
authors: Krzysztof
authors: K
authors: Dudek
authors: Department of Clinical Nursing, Wrocław Medical University; Cardiology Unit, T Marciniak Lower Silesian Specialist Hospital, Emergency Medicine Centre, Wrocław, Poland.
authors: Krystyna
authors: K
authors: Łoboz-Grudzień
keywords: percutaneous coronary intervention; quality of life; sex differences