Lasting impact on health-related quality of life after a first myocardial infarction.

AIMS

To investigate if the previously reported lack of recovery in Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQOL), in myocardial infarction, patients, would be long lasting.

METHODS

Of 72 consecutive patients (19% women) with a mean age of 59 years, 65 consented to participate in a follow-up 1 and 2 years after their first myocardial infarction. HRQOL was assessed by self-administered questionnaires (SF-36, Cardiac Health Profile and Zung Depression Inventory).

RESULTS

For the age group <59 years, there was no statistically significant recovery in SF-36 Mental Component Summary scores over time. There were improvements in Physical Component Summary scores, from baseline to 12 and to 24 months (p=0.006 and p<0.001, respectively) and from 6 to 24 months (p=0.044). This group reached community norms in Physical Component Summary scores after 2 years but scored significantly below norms in Mental Component Summary scores throughout with an effect size of -0.5 (CI -0.88 to -0.14) at 2 years. In patients > or =59 years, no changes took place after 6 months. At 2 years, factors Emotional and Social Functioning in the Cardiac Health Profile showed statistically significant differences between groups (p=0.03 and p=0.05, respectively) demonstrating poorer quality of life in the age group <59 years.

CONCLUSIONS

In younger patients, a clinically important poorer effect on Health-Related Quality of life is still present 2 years after an acute myocardial infarction.