Factores clínicos y sociodemográficos asociados a la calidad de vida en supervivientes de ictus e infarto agudo de miocardio

Abstract

Introduction: The paradigm that has influenced heath policies and practices in the recent decades has increased the interest in the evaluation of the perception of Quality of Life. The improvement of Quality of Life is, currently, a goal of health policies, both in its promotion and in the prevention of the disease. The perception of Quality of Life has been used to evaluate the treatment and evolution of pathologies because it allows a better understanding of the patient and his adaptation to the disease. The population aging is a worldwide phenomenon that generates significant changes in health needs, by the increased incidence and prevalence of associated chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases and their sequelae. For a large part of surviving stroke patients, a new life must be started with the dysfunctionalities and disabilities generated by the disease that can cause a huge impact on the perception of the Quality of Life. Individual`s victims of acute myocardial infarction also present, a decrease in their Quality of Life perception, related to the physical and psychological limitations of impaired heart function, fundamental for life maintenance. Health professionals should know the perception that these patients have of their Quality of Life, to define strategies that improve health and minimize the negative impact of these diseases on patients Quality of Life, families and the community. Methodology: In the present research an observational, descriptive-correlational study of quantitative methodology and cross-sectional nature, was carried out with the purpose of analyse stroke and acute myocardial infarction survivor`s perception of Quality of Life. This study focused on patients followed on the Tavira Health Centre, with a sample of 204 individuals (103 stroke survivors and 101 acute myocardial infarction survivors) and used the Portuguese version of World Health Organization Quality of life instrument. Results: Statistically significant differences have been found in the perception of Quality of Life, in terms of sociodemographic variables in, age, sex, marital status, academic training and monthly family income. With respect to clinical variables, the number of Vascular Risk Factors, type of stroke, evolution, sequelae, mRankin score, and presence of cardiac symptoms in daily activities, also present significant values. Finally, in the comparison between the two groups of patients, the fact that stroke survivors perceive their Quality of Life worse than acute myocardial infarction survivors was relevant.