Health-Related Quality of Life in Non-Cardiac Chest Pain Patients with and without Panic Disorder

OBJECTIVE: Little is known about health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in non-cardiac chest pain patients with (PD) or without panic disorder (NoPD). The aims of the study were: (1) to compare the HRQoL scores in chest pain patients with and without PD and compare their scores with those from the general population; (2) to compare the 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) scores of PD patients with those of PD patients in other studies; and (3) to identify predictors of HRQoL. METHOD: We assessed HRQoL in 167 patients consecutively referred for outpatient investigation of chest pain but who proved to have no cardiac condition (non-cardiac chest pain). HRQoL was assessed with the SF-36 and compared with Norwegian population norms. Factors affecting HRQoL were examined using multiple linear regression models. RESULTS: SF-36 scores were lower in PD patients compared to NoPD patients for all domains. Both groups were significantly more impaired than the normal population. Gender, age, being married, years of education, the sum of chronic illnesses, neuroticism, and the presence of panic disorder and depression symptoms accounted for 17-67% of the variance in three selected SF-36 scales. CONCLUSIONS: Non-cardiac chest pain patients reported significantly impaired HRQoL. Chest pain patients with PD exhibited significant impairment, similar to PD patients seeking treatment in psychiatric care. Non-cardiac chest pain patients with PD should therefore be identified and offered treatment.