QUALITY OF LIFE IN ADULT POSTINFARCTION PATIENTS OF THE CORONARY UNIT AT DR. HERNÁN HENRÍQUEZ ARAVENA HOSPITAL FROM THE CITY OF TEMUCO

Abstract

Objective: To determine the Quality of Life Related to Health (HRQL) of the adult infarcted patients of the Cardiovascular Unit at Dr. Hernán Henríquez Aravena Hospital in the city of Temuco, Chile. Material and method: Quantitative retrospective cross-sectional exploratory study. 105 post-infarction users participated in the study, of wich 72.3% were male and 27.6% female; 57.1% of then had completed elementary education; 47.6% had an income of less than $ 200,000 and an average age of 57.3 (DS 2.09). The instrument used was the SF-36 Health Questionnaire. 95% Confidence Interval and multicomparison tests were applied by using the Bonferroni method. For the analysis of the 8 dimensions the age variable was used as a covariate to improve the predictability of the effects. Results: A worse perception of HRQL was observed in women in the Physical Function, Body Pain, General Health, Vitality, Social Function and Mental Health items; this means a worse evaluation of the physical and mental domain in these participants. The best evaluated subscales in males correspond to Emotional Performance, Vitality, Physical Function and Mental Health. Only on the Social Physical Role and Emotional Role scales, the sex factor did not generate statistically significant differences. Conclusion: When determining the HRQL in the study subjects, it can be concluded that there is a better perception by the men than by the women enrolled in this study, both in the physical and mental domain.