Background: Quality of life is increasingly being incorporated into clinical trials as an end-point that can complement the traditional end-points of mortality and morbidity. This study presents the results of a multicenter survey on the evaluation of health-related quality of life (HRQL) of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients. The survey, a companion study of the GISSI-3 trial, involved nurses from 66 italian coronary care units (CCU).
Methods: A specific questionnaire, based on a multidimensional concept of health, was developed and validated. The questionnaires, which explored the HRQL of the patients during the month before the questionnaires were handed out, were administered during the hospital stay, at 6 weeks and again at 6 months from the AMI.
Results: 1941 patients (64% of the patients initially given the questionnaire) answered the three questionnaires. The AMI has an impact on most aspects of the HRQL at 6 weeks, but at 6 months the major impact continues to involve functional status. Apparently, the overall evaluation of quality of life and health is not affected by the AMI. Women show a lower quality of life compared to men, even at baseline. Elderly patients and patients who suffer from severe left ventricular dysfunction have a worse quality of life compared to younger patients and patients without complications.
Conclusions: A simple questionnaire, delivered to patients during everyday practice, made it possible to obtain a profile of the HRQL of AMI patients. The domain most negatively affected 6 months after the AMI is the functional status.