Hippokratia 2006, 10(4):176-181
H Antonakoudis, K Kifnidis, A Andreadis, E Fluda, Z Konti, N Papagianis, H Stamou, E Anastasopoulou, G Antonakoudis, L Poulimenos
Cardiology Dpt, Asclepeion Hospital, Athens, Greece
Abstract
Aim of this study was to investigate the significance of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) on Health Related Quality of Life ( HRQoL) in post acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients.
Methods. A total number of 110 individuals divided in 3 groups was included in the study. Group A consisted of 60 post-AMI patients participating in a CR program. It was a multidisciplinary rehabilitative approach including supervised bike exercise, with parallel education, counselling, psychological and social support, performed 3 times per week for 2 months after AMI. Group B consisted of 40 post-AMI patients not participating in any CR program while the control group C consisted of 10 apparently healthy people. HRQoL was evaluated by the Velasco-Del Barrio questionnaire. Questions on this questionnaire are refered to 9 categories (health, sleep and rest, emotional behavior, concerns for the future, mobility, social interaction, alertness behavior, communication, work and leisure time). A 5-point scale (1=all of the time, 5=none of the time) and a special (1 to 8 coefficient for each parameter were used for the evaluation of each parameter. The highest score of 220 indicates the poorest QL.Results. Group A patients had better score of HRQoL as compared to Group B (94??3 vs 114??3, p < 0.001) and slightly worse than Group C patients (94??4 vs 69??3, p < 0.01). Significant difference was found among Group A and B patients regarding the most important evaluated parameters such as symptoms (17 ??6.8 vs 22??6.5, p < 0.001) and social behavior (21??4.2 vs 23??5.5, p < 0.0001). Conclusion. It is concluded that participation in a multidisciplinary CR program significantly improves HRQoL in post AMI patients. All these patients must urged to take part in such programs.
Keywords: Quality of life, acute myocardial infarction, cardiac rehabilitation
Correspoding author: Antonakoudis H, e-mail: antonakoud@yahoo.gr