Critical Review of Factors Predicting Health-Related Quality of Life in Newly Diagnosed Coronary Artery Disease Patients

Background: Newly diagnosed coronary heart disease patients can experience significant negative changes in their health-related quality of life (HRQoL). No existing literature review was found related to factors predicting HRQoL in newly diagnosed coronary heart disease patients. Purpose: The aim of this study was to identify factors predicting HRQoL in newly diagnosed coronary heart disease patients. Review Methods: We searched studies published between 1997 and 2009 with combinations of key words including factors, predictor, health-related quality of life, quality of life, first diagnosed coronary heart disease patients, and coronary heart disease patients. Data sources were ProQuest, ScienceDirect, CINAHL, PsychINFO, PubMed, and Scopus. Seventeen studies were identified that primarily examined HRQoL from 6 weeks to 12 months after diagnosis. Conclusions: Factors predicting HRQoL in newly diagnosed coronary heart disease patients can be divided into 3 groups: sociodemographic, clinical, and psychosocial. Characteristics in each category most strongly predictive of HRQoL in newly diagnosed coronary heart disease patients were: Sociodemographic positive predictors were baseline HRQoL, education level, and marital status; sociodemographic negative predictors included number of cardiovascular risks and female gender. Age was an inverse predictor. Clinical negative predictors included angina, physical functioning, and fatigue. Psychosocial positive predictors included social support and a sense of coherence, whereas depression, anxiety and depression, overall psychosocial characteristics or mood disturbance, anxiety, and hostility were negative predictors. Clinical Implications: This review identifies predictors of HRQoL and shows the importance of assessing factors that predict HRQoL at baseline and throughout the trajectory of this chronic illness because the concept of HRQoL changes over time but the predictors remain constant.