Quality of Life and Illness Intrusiveness by Type-D Personality in the Patients with Coronary Artery Disease

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the influence of the type-D personality on quality of life and illness intrusiveness. METHODS: This study was a cross-sectional study. Data were collected using self-reported questionnaire from 200 patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Variables were measured with the Type-D Scale-14 (DS14), Korean Health Related Quality of Life Scale (KoQoLS), and the Illness Intrusiveness Rating Scale (ILRS). RESULTS: Of the patients, 38% were classified as type-D personality. Among the 10 subcategories of quality of life, the highest mean score was bodily pain (5.84+/-.85) and the lowest was role limitation (1.52+/-.20). Among 13 item of illness intrusiveness, the highest mean score was health (3.78+/-.73) and the lowest was family relationships (2.14+/-.58). There were significant differences in all the subcategories of quality of life between type-D and non type-D except for subcategories of bodily pain and role limitation. However, there were no significant differences in illness intrusiveness between type-D and non type-D. CONCLUSION: Type-D is an important factor in quality of life in patients with CAD, but no correlations between type-D and illness intrusiveness were found. These results can be used as basic data for developing cardiac rehabilitation programs to improve quality of life in type-D patients.