[Effect of social factors on quality of life of survivors of myocardial infarction].

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of the social environment on the quality of life of the survivors of an acute myocardial infarction.

METHODS

A prospective cohort study was carried out with telephone follow up of patients admitted in the Intensive Care Units of six public hospitals in the region of Valencia (Spain). Three hundred eighty consecutive patients admitted for acute myocardial infarction were studied being followed a median of 3.4 years. Follow up was complete in 91.6% of the cases.

RESULTS

The global quality of life was good. The component most affected was that of physical activity. Following control of the effect of the biologic and health care covariables, the quality of life was inversely and independently associated with age, female sex, low educative level and foreigness.

CONCLUSIONS

Unequality was found in regard to the quality of life based on the socioeconomic level of survivors of acute myocardial infarction.