FRIDAY, Aug. 23, 2002 (HealthDayNews) -- No one is happy to learn that he or she has cardiac disease. But the quality of life for women with heart disease is considerably worse than a man's, according to a new study.
Researchers from Ohio State University say they found that women had a significantly worse time than men, regardless of the kind of cardiac disease, age, race, or cardiac risk factors. The quality of life remains lower for women a year after their diagnosis or initial treatment for heart problems.
The study included 536 people (35 percent women) with a mean age of 59.5 years. All the people in the study filled out a survey questionnaire and were interviewed at three-month intervals over the following year.
The survey measured psychological functioning and quality of life, including activity levels, emotional state, sadness and anxiety, and the person's perception of available social support.
Women scored lower on both mental and physical composite indicators of quality of life at every survey point in the study.
The authors say the study supports the theory that social support is an important factor in the reduced quality of life for women with cardiac disease.
The study was presented yesterday at the annual convention of the American Psychological Association.
More information
This information from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute can help women determine how high their risk might be in developing cardiovascular problems.
