Abstract
Objective: The aim of this study was to analyse gender specific differences in regard to intensity and factors influencing health-related quality of life in patients with cardiac arrhythmia. Furthermore, the correlations between self- and external-rating of quality of life are investigated.
Method: A total of 687 patients with cardiac arrhythmia (quota of women: 29%) was examined with regard to gender-specific differences in their quality of life (SF12). 497 partners were asked to give an external-rating of quality of life (SF12-external). Additionally – besides socio-demographic factors – general anxiety and depression (HADS), heart-related fears (CAQ) as well as symptoms of a post-traumatic stress disorder (IES-R) were assessed as predictors.
Results: Female as well as male patients showed an impaired quality of life in comparison with the normal population. Here, women were significantly more impaired than men, in self-evaluation as well as in evaluation by others, even if the age effect was controlled for. Men were less able to evaluate the quality of life of their partner suffering from cardiac arrhythmia than women respectively. With regard to the factors influencing quality of life, there were gender specific differences which suggest that men and women differ in their coping with the cardiac disease.
Conclusion: Female patients with cardiac arrhythmia have a more impaired quality of life than men. The factors influencing their quality of life differ from those in men. The differences in self- and external-rating of quality of life may be explained by dyadic coping. These gender-specific differences have to be paid more attention to in treatment of patients, e.g. in genderspecific rehabilitation measures.
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