Health - related Quality of Life of Patients with Coronary Heart Disease Attending a Cardiac Care Centre in Kathmandu

Abstract

Introduction: Coronary heart disease (CHD) is gradually emerging as a major public health problem in many developing countries including Nepal. Consequences of CHD are that it often results in depletion of the health related quality of life (HRQL) of patients. The aim of this study was to assess the HRQL of CHD patients.

Methods: A descriptive cross sectional design was used to assess HRQL of 254 CHD patients attending out-patient department of Shahid Gangalal National Heart Centre (SGNHC), Bansbari, Kathmandu, Nepal. Purposive sampling technique was used for data collection by face to face interview technique using the MacNew Health - related Quality of Life tool.

Results: The results of the study showed that mean ± SD for emotional domain was 3.87 ± 1.01, for physical domain was 3.81 ± 0.88 and social domain was 3.82 ± 0.88 and global score of HRQL was 3.83 ± 0.87 on 7- point likert scale. The different domains of HRQL was significantly correlated with each others. The descriptive statistics of individual domain scores according to level of HRQL was found to be greater in below average group in each domain including global HRQL score.

Conclusions: The HRQL score of CHD patients attending a cardiac centre are below average. Hence, Self-Instructional Module (SIM) on “Living well with CHD” was developed to enhanced quality of life.