Health-related quality of life with coronary heart disease prevention and treatment

Estimating the net benefits of dyslipidemia treatment is limited by the lac k of comprehensive and standardized information on the preference for dysli pidemia and coronary heart disease, In a hospital-based study, we measured the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of healthy participants without dyslipidemia (n = 307) and with dyslipidemia (n = 251) and patients with co ronary heart disease (n = 320). Compared to the healthy participants withou t dyslipidemia, those with dyslipidemia reported lower adjusted mean scores on the Rating Scale (-2.8 points, P = 0.02) and the SF-36 General Health S cale (-3.3 points, P = 0.02). No differences were observed on the Time Trad e-off and the Standard Gamble Scales. Coronary patients reported lower scor es on all preference scales and most SF-36 scales. The causes of the small but real reduction in HRQOL reported by dyslipidemic individuals should be identified in order to optimize the net benefits of lipid therapy. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.