Quality of life of people six months post percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty.

The purpose of this study was to describe the quality of life of people six months post percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). Health related quality of life with components: functional capacity, perception of health status, life satisfaction, symptoms and expectations of treatment with satisfaction of actual outcome were used as the conceptual bases. Data were collected using a combination of standardized and investigator developed instruments. Descriptive and correlational analysis were completed on the sample who met the inclusion criteria. The subjects experienced improvement in their quality of life six months post PTCA as indicated by less severity of angina, higher perception of health status, and low impact to illness score. The subjects prior expectations of PTCA were related to satisfaction with treatment outcome. Those subjects with several chronic illnesses had a lower life satisfaction and a higher physical impact to illness score. However, as age increased so did the perception of health. Persons needing PTCA should be encouraged by the positive results of PTCA identified by this study.