Quality of Life in Women with Coronary Artery Disease

BACKGROUND: Coronary artery disease (CAD) as a chronic disease can affect physical, mental, and social aspects of health as well as the perception of wellbeing. Advanced treatments of the disease emphasize on functionality and quality of life (QOL). OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to investigate the QOL and its related factors among women with CAD. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted on 200 women with CAD, referring to the Heart Clinic of Shahid Rajaei Cardiovascular Center in Tehran, Iran. The participants were selected by convenient sampling method. Data were collected using the Persian version of Ferrans and Powers QOL index (QLI) cardiac version and then analyzed using descriptive statistics and statistical tests (independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, and Scheffe’s test). RESULTS: The mean score of overall QOL was 16.91 ± 3.54, ranging between 7.17-27.63. Regarding the instrument subscales, the mean scores were as follows: health and functioning: 15.48 ± 4.32, social and economic: 16.18 ± 3.65, psychological/spiritual: 18.04 ± 4.36, and familial: 20.12 ± 4.57. There was a significant relationship between QOL and marital status (P = 0.004), education (P = 0.007), income (P < 0.001) and disease duration (P = 0.047). However, there was no significant association between QOL and age, job and comorbidity. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the findings, participants had average levels of overall QOL. Some domains showed the need to improve QOL of women with CAD. Results of the present study revealed the necessity of designing and performing educational and supportive interventions to improve the QOL in women with CAD, especially among patients with low socio-economic status.