Perceived health over 3 years after percutaneous coronary balloon angioplasty

The magnitude of the benefit of percutaneous transluminal coronary angiopla sty (PTCA) in terms of quality of life depending on baseline and outcome cl inical variables is not sufficiently understood because of the restrictive inclusion criteria of randomized clinical trials. The present study was des igned to assess perceived health outcome at 3 years and its association wit h clinical variables after successful elective PTCA in a tertiary hospital throughout a prospective cohort study. Questionnaires were administered on the day before the procedure and 1 month and 3.4 years later (as mean follo w-up) to 106 patients recruited during a 15-month period. Mean perceived he alth scores improved significantly for the population as a whole 1 month af ter PTCA, and improvement was maintained at the end of follow-up. The magni tude of the effect was different depending on clinical subgroups: (a) It wa s greatest in patients free from angina, myocardial infarction, or new reva scularization procedures at the end of follow-up; (b) It was moderately red uced in patients with comorbidity; (c) Patients who reported to have dyspne a or angina at rest after the latest revascularization procedure did not im prove, with poor final perceived health scores. Elective PTCA is associated with a significant improvement in perceived health, which varies depending on the clinical outcome, Comorbidity and initial perceived health influenc e outcome but do not preclude improvement. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Inc.