Herz-Kreislauf-Erkrankungen und Diagnose

Quality of Life in Patients Under Investigation for Unclear Chest Pain; Before and After Coronary Angiography

Abstract

Catrin Henriksson, Theresa Hallberg, Nina Johnston

Background: Patients with unclear chest pain experience more anxiety compared to those receiving a clear diagnosis, and they also report lower quality of life (QoL) than a general population. The aim was to investigate if there were differences in QoL before coronary angiography compared to six months later.

Methods: This was a quantitative study using the questionnaire EQ-5D. The study population consisted of patients (N=150) with unclear chest pain, referred for elective coronary angiography. They were asked to complete a questionnaire the day before coronary angiography and six months later.

Results: Significant improvements were seen regarding usual activities, pain/discomfort and total health status on the day before coronary angiography compared to at six months follow up.

Conclusions: Patients with unclear chest pain seem to estimate their total health status before coronary angiography worse than both the general population and myocardial infarction patients. Those with coronary artery disease CAD rated better total health status in comparison to those with a final diagnosis of no CAD. However, six months later significant improvements were seen.