Quality of life for women after a myocardial infarction.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the level of quality of life and to determine the relationship of selected variables to quality of life in a sample of women after a myocardial infarction (MI).

DESIGN

Ex post facto, one-group, correlational survey.

SETTING

Offices of cardiologists in private practice.

PARTICIPANTS

Consecutive sample of 96 women who had a diagnosis of MI, and who had not undergone cardiac surgery.

RESULTS

The mean quality of life score was 21.6. Significant variables in the regression equation were employment status (p < 0.01), social support (p < 0.01), and self-esteem (p = 0.04), and these three variables accounted for 45% of the variance in quality of life.

CONCLUSIONS

The quality of life scores in this sample were higher than expected and similar to those of healthy populations. Those women in the sample who returned to their former employment status and had higher levels of social support and self-esteem had higher levels of quality of life.