Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty: clinical and quality of life outcomes one year later

BACKGROUND: The quality of life status of patients prior to and following percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) has not been comprehensively investigated. AIM: This study was carried out to determine the effect that PTCA has on patients' quality of life. METHODS: Data on 209 patients were collected one day pre-PTCA and at a mean of two and 11 months post-PTCA. Data on symptomatic status, functional capacity, life satisfaction and psychological well-being were analysed quantitatively. Clinical outcomes, patient perception of PTCA and employment status wee analysed by descriptive statistics. RESULTS: Highly significant improvement in all quality of life measures was found at the early follow-up (p < .001). This improvement was sustained at the late follow-up. At the late follow-up, 58% of patients felt that PTCA had been very beneficial to their health and well-being, and 79% of workers had returned to work. PTCA was primarily successful in 91% of vessels dilated. There were no procedural-related deaths, 12 patients (6%) developed acute occlusion and three patients (1.5%) experienced myocardial infarction (MI). A symptomatic restenosis rate of 16% was found, including 19 patients (9%) requiring repeat PTCA and 14 (7%) undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that, after PTCA, the majority of patients experienced improved quality of life which was sustained one year later.