Investigating the effect of rehabilitation on the quality of life in patients with MI

Abstract

Introduction: Given the progressive pace of myocardial infarction (MI), its high mortality, sudden death, physical activity limitations and frequent hospitalizations imposing high expenses to the government and the patients and due to the shortage of patients' knowledge concerning cardiac patients, this research was carried out to investigate quality of life after MI.

Methods: This was a case-control study. The population studied included all MI patients referred to Isfahan University Hospitals with the sample size of 88, half rehabilitated and the other half not rehabilitated. The sampling method was random. Data were gathered with questionnaires containing 23 open and close questions investigating quality of life after MI through interview.

Results: The average age of rehabilitated and non-rehabilitated samples was 51.4 years and 53.5 years, respectively. To compare the quality of life before and after rehabilitation, all answers were given scores and the total score was divided into four groups as followings: group one: scores <20, group two: 20< scores <29, group three: 30< scores< 39 and group four: scores_>40. Statistical test of Wilcoxon showed a significant difference between life quality before and after rehabilitation (P<0.001). There was also a significant difference in quality of life, between 1 and 3 months after MI among non-rehabilitated patients (P= 0.0128). About 95.3% and 69.6% of rehabilitated and non-rehabilitated patients, respectively, did not show any occasional cold sweating. Over 80% of rehabilitated samples and 47.8% of non-rehabilitated ones did not have dizziness and palpitation. The average scores of quality of life in rehabilitated and non-rehabilitated groups after three months were 26.53 and 26.3, respectively.

Conclusion: Close scores of quality of life in rehabilitated and non-rehabilitated patients showed the necessity of a more serious investigation in this issue and possibly, imposing high-intensity strength exercise to them.