Quality of life after acute myocardial infarction: A systematic review

BACKGROUND: Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is an important measure of a patient's recovery after an illness. It has been suggested that different treatments may affect the HRQoL of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). OBJECTIVE: To examine the effects of an AMI on HRQoL and identify common patterns in the HRQoL assessments of post-AMI patients. METHODS: Systematic review of published studies. RESULTS: The impact of AMI on HRQoL appears to be modest. Physical capacity, work status, symptoms, functional status and general health perceptions declined the most after AMI. However, the majority of these HRQoL domains improved to normal levels with time. The severity of AMI-related symptoms, timing of HRQoL measurements after AMI and patients' age have had the most important influence on patient HRQoL after AMI. CONCLUSIONS: The review suggests that HRQoL is minimally affected by AMI. However, current measurement tools may not be sensitive enough to detect changes in HRQoL after AMI.