ACUTE MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION;

QUALITY OF LIFE FOUR YEARS AFTER ACUTE MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION

Abstract

Objectives: To assess the impact of myocardial infarction on quality of life in four year survivors and to determine factors associated with a poor quality of life. Design: Descriptive study. Settings: Faisalabad institute of cardiology Faisalabad. Duration of Study: 1^st November 2017 to 30 April 2018. Sample Size: Sample size was 200 as calculated by WHO sample size calculator. Sampling Technique: Non probability consecutive sampling. Subjects: All patients diagnosed with acute myocardial infarction during 2013 and alive at a median of four years. Patients and Methods: 200 patients presenting in outdoor for routine follow up checkup who got MI approximately four years ago in year 2013 were included in the study. Results: 200 patients with an acute myocardial infarction in 2013 and alive and capable of responding to a questionnaire in 2018 were included in the study. Physical functioning was normal in 63%, fair in 25% and disturbed in 12% of patients. Social life functioning was normal in 66%, fair in 26% and disturbed in 8% of patients. No Angina episodes in 61.5%, 1 to 2 angina episodes per month in 25% and more than 3 episodes per month in 13.5% patients. 59% of patients were doing routine jobs, 21.5 % were doing off and on job and 19.5% were not doing any job after MI. Conclusions: this study provides valuable information for the practicing clinicians. Impaired quality of life was reported by patients, unfit for work, those with angina and dyspnea, patients with coexistent lung disease, those with anxiety and sleep disturbances and other co-morbid conditions. Improving quality of life after MI remains a challenge for practicing physicians.