Disparities in Health-Related Quality of Life among Adults with Ischemic Heart Disease, Stroke, and Both Conditions

Background: Notable disparities exist in ischemic heart disease (IHD) and stroke outcomes. Studies have identified several causal factors that contribute to these disparities, but few have assessed the disparate quality of life (QOL) among individuals living with IHD, stroke, or both. This study evaluated the impact of IHD, stroke, and both conditions on health-related QOL (HRQOL) and quantified existing disparities. Materials and Methods: Using the data from the 2021 National Health Interview Survey, we calculated the health and activities limitation index — a generic HRQOL measure comprising perceived health and activities limitations — for 29,482 adults. Adjusting for sex, age, income, education, urbanicity, marital status, household size, region of residence, and insurance status, the differences in HRQOL between racial and ethnic groups were estimated as well as racial/ethnic differences in the HRQOL of IHD, stroke, or both conditions. Results: Compared to those with neither condition, individuals with IHD (−0.214, Standard Error (SE)=0.015, stroke (−0.291, SE=0.028), and both (−0.438, SE=0.040) had 20% to 44% lower HRQOL. Blacks (−0.014, SE=0.004) and hispanics (−0.012, SE=0.003) had lower HRQOL compared to whites even after sample heterogeneity. Diagnosis with stroke (−0.182, SE=0.082), IHD (−0.137, SE=0.052), or both (−0.208, SE=0.126) lowered the HRQOL more for black individuals compared to white individuals, while other subgroups showed no statistically significant difference in HRQOL. In general, sex, age, and household composition showed little difference in adjusted HRQOL. Conclusion: While IHD and stroke are independently associated with significantly low HRQOL, their co-occurrence has a substantially negative impact on HRQOL, particularly among minoritized racial groups.