GENERIC VERSUS DISEASE-SPECIFIC HEALTH-STATUS MEASURES - AN EXAMPLE USING CORONARY-ARTERY DISEASE AND CONGESTIVE-HEART-FAILURE PATIENTS

The objectives of this study were to evaluate and compare the psychome tric properties of a generic health status measure, the Medical Outcom es Study SF-36, and a disease-specific health status measure, a modifi ed version of the Chronic Heart Failure Questionnaire (CHQ), among out patients known to have coronary artery disease (CAD) and/or congestive heart failure (CHF). A cross-sectional analysis of baseline data obta ined from 670 outpatients participating in a randomized controlled cli nical trial in the general medicine clinics of a major academic medica l center was performed. The SF-36 war more comprehensive in its covera ge of different health status domains. In contrast, the CHQ had fewer problems with floor and ceiling effects, was more internally consisten t, had better dimensional reproducibility, and exhibited less factoria l complexity. Although both instruments are appropriate for use among outpatients known to have CAD and/or CHF the CHQ has significantly bet ter psychometric properties than does the SF-36.