Authors
- Ksenija Tušek Bunc — Slovenia — ORCID: 0000-0003-1474-9090
Keywords
quality of life, patients, coronary heart disease
DOI
https://doi.org/10.15836/ccar.2015.222Full Text
Background: Quality management of patients with coronary heart disease significantly contributes to better health-related quality of life (HRQoL). ( 1 , 2 ) Patients and Methods: The study was cross-sectional and included 423 patients with coronary heart disease from 36 family medicine from all Slovenian regions. The purpose of the study was to identify factors associated with HRQoL at the patient level. A comprehensive questionnaire for patients included, among others, the standardized the EuroQol instrument (EQ-5D) for measuring quality of life. Multivariate regression analysis was performed. Results: The average age of participants was 68.0 (SD=10.8) years, 64.8% were male. Multivariate regression analysis of factors impacting the patient, the presence of vascular co-morbidity, and anxiety-depressive disorders on HRQoL (as measured by the Visual Analogue Scale), showed ( Table 1 ) significant association between patient age, frequency of family practice visits, heart failure, anxiety-depressive disorders, and the patient chronic illness care evaluation (p<0.001, F=7.816, R˛=0.258). Analysis of the influence of these factors on health-related quality of life using EQ-5D showed ( Table 2 ) a statistically significant positive association between health self-evaluation and patient education, and a negative association with peripheral artery disease and heart failure (p<0.001, F=18.386, R˛=0.450). R˛=0.258; F = 7.816; p < 0.001 95% CI = 95% confidence interval; SE = standard error R˛=0.450; F = 18.386; p < 0.001 95% CI = 95% confidence interval; SE = standard error Discussion: HRQoL in patients with coronary artery disease is associated with patient characteristics, with vascular co-morbidity and anxiety-depressive disorders. Of the demographic factors related to HRQoL, older age is associated with a worse HRQoL. Another factor predicting a worse HRQoL is frequency of family practice visits. On the other hand, higher education, better self-assessment of health, and better assessment of chronic illness care are associated with a better HRQoL. Heart failure, peripheral artery disease, and anxiety-depressive disorders stand out as diseases predicting of a worse HRQoL.