Health-related quality of life in patients hospitalized with ischemic cardiopathy (Spanish text)

Aims. Assessing the health related quality of life (HRQL) perceived by coronary patients and the factors that influence this perception, can provide valuable information complementary to the traditional clinical assessment of these patients. In order to a better interpretation of the values obtained from their HRQL, it is appropriate to compare them with populational norms.; This study compares the quality of life of patients who have suffered an acute episode of ischemic cardiopathy with the populational norms and determines the clinical and sociodemographic factors predictors of their HRQL.; Methods. 132 patients admitted to a Cardiology Department for an acute episode of ischemic cardiopathy were studied. The presence of possible mental disorders was measured using the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) and the HRQL was assessed using the Short Form 36 Health Questionnaire (SF-36). For the comparison of the patients data with population norms, measurements based on percentiles were utilized and the differences were analysed by age and sex groups at the level of the 25th percentile (25% ± C.I.95%).; In order to know the predictive variables, two multiple linear regression models were constructed, employing as outcome variables the physical component summary (PCS) and the mental component summary (MCS) of the SF-36.; Results. Differences between the patients studied and the general Spanish population were evident in all SF-36 dimensions except vitality. The largest differences were observed in the youngest coronary patients and in females who presented the lowest scores.; The score ≥6 in the GHQ-28 was the variable that best predicted the PCS in the patients studied, although in those patients with a personal history of ischemic cardiopathy, the age tended to increase the quality of life, whereas in those without personal history, the age diminished the PCS. Further, being married, being of male sex, having GHQ-28 scores ≥6 and age were the variables that best predicted the MCS score.; Conclusion. The HRQL of patients hospitalised for ischemic cardiopathy was lower than the Spanish population. Age, sex, marital status, personal history of ischemic cardiopathy and the presence of a possible mental disorder are the most predictive factors of the HRQL in coronary patients.