This study compared measures of quality of life (QOL) in two groups of coronary heart disease patients: one with myocardial infarction (MI) and one with angina (A). The population studied consisted of 49 patients from Group MI and 27 patients from Group A. A questionnaire was used to identify socio-demographic and clinical data, as well as data from the SF-36 instrument, to assess the patients' QOL. It was observed in both groups that the QOL declined in the following aspects: physical functioning, pain, general health condition, vitality, social functioning, and mental health. Socio-demographic and clinical variables influenced the QOL score. Studies aiming at a larger number of individuals and a better understanding of the effects of the variables above upon the QOL of coronary patients are needed.
quality of life; coronary disease; mortality
