QUALITY-OF-LIFE AFTER CORONARY ANGIOPLASTY

Objective: To explore the impact of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) on perceived quality of life and health-related quality of life. Design: One-group, pretest-posttest design. Pretest data were collected the evening before PTCA and posttest data were collected 4 to 6 weeks after PTCA. Data were collected from medical records, structured interview, and mailed questionnaire. Setting: University-affiliated, Midwestern medical center. Patients: Forty patients undergoing PTCA. Outcome measures: Perceived quality of life was assessed by use of the Ferrans and Powers Quality of Life Index. Health-related quality of life was assessed in terms of cardiac symptoms, tolerance of physical activity, exercise capacity, perceived general health, return to work, and lifestyle changes. Intervention: PTCA. Results; Perceived quality of life increased significantly due to increased satisfaction with health and functioning rather than changes in other areas of life. Significant improvements were found in cardiac symptoms (decreased incidence of chest pain and frequency of cardiac symptoms), tolerance of physical activity (decrease in symptoms with activity, increase in number of blocks able to walk, and decrease in interference with recreational activities because of symptoms), treadmill tests, and perceived general health. Regarding lifestyle changes, significant numbers of subjects quit smoking and increased their frequency of exercise, but the majority reported cheating on their prescribed diets. Conclusions: PTCA was found to result in significant improvements in perceived quality of life and health-related quality of life.