Health-related quality of life and its associated factors in Chinese myocardial infarction patients

Background: Healthcare providers are called on to assess and improve the health-related quality of life (HRQL) of patients with myocardial infarction (MI). However, there is lack of empirical data on HRQL of such individuals in mainland China. The purpose of this study is to assess HRQL and identify associated factors in hospitalized Chinese MI patients.

Methods: A single group, cross-sectional design was adopted with a sample of 192 hospitalized MI patients at two teaching hospitals in Xi’an, People’s Republic of China. HRQL was assessed using the Chinese Mandarin versions of the Short Form 36 health survey (SF-36), the Myocardial Infarction Dimensional Assessment Scale (MIDAS), and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS).

Results: Chinese MI patients reported poor HRQL as measured by both the generic (SF-36) and disease-specific (MIDAS) instruments. Advancing age and the presence of heart failure, anxiety, and depression were significant predictors of overall HRQL. Smoking and hypertension were significant predictors of the physical aspects of HRQL.

Conclusions: Assessing HRQL of hospitalized Chinese MI patients and identifying associated factors may help health professionals in the design and delivery of appropriately tailored and culturally relevant interventions to this group of patients.