Quality of life in patients with ischemic heart disease

Background and Purpose: Ischemic Heart Diseases (IHD) is getting as the most common and the main causes of heart diseases and mortalities worldwide affecting the quality of life (QOL) of the patients. This study was conducted to determine the QOL for the patients with IHD referring to medical centers of Kashan in 2007. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on all patients (n =500) referring to the medical centers with definitive diagnosis of Myocardial Infarction (MI), having coronary artery disease, who have undergone percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) and coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgeries. QOL of the clients were measured respectively by short form-36 (SF-36) and Seattle angina questionnaire (SAQ) instruments and then scored as bad, medium, good, and very good based on the test scores. Demographic data and the major risk factors for cardiovascular diseases were also collected using the questionnaire. The data was analyzed by Chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests along with Pearson’s correlation coefficient and Kendall’s rho. Results: QOL based on the SF-36 and SAQ criteria were viewed with a mean of 112.5±24 and 59.8±9.14, respectively. Gender, older age, educational level, marital status, the number of children, residency location and having risk factor had influenced their life quality. Conclusions: Correlation of the results between the two tests of SAQ and SF-36 and correlation between QOL levels have been positive and meaningful. The study offers more attention and education to the patients undergoing PTCA surgeries, the aged ones, patients with other diseases, singles, villagers, illiterate and female ones.