PHYSICAL SUMMARY SCORE OF QUALITY OF LIFE IN PATIENTS WITH ANGINA UNDERGOING ENHANCED EXTERNAL COUNTERPULSATION, BEFORE AND AFTER TREATMENT

Angina pectoris influences on work abilities، social interactions and daily activities of patients. This study examined the physical summary score of quality of life in patients with angina who underwent enhanced external counterpulsation. This was a quasi-experimental study. We studied 64 patients with angina who underwent enhanced external counterpulsation. Data were collected using demographic and clinical data questionnaires as well as health related quality of life Short Form 36 (SF-36) questionnaire (Iranian version) in three stages. The results were analyzed using descriptive and analytical statistics by applying spss. The mean age of patients was 65 (SD= 10/54) years old and male/female ratio was 38/26. The mean coronary artery disease duration was 8 years (SD=5/72) and about 70/3% had history of myocardial infarction. The results of study showed that the mean of all the subscales of physical summary scores showed significant improvement at the end of treatment and at 3 months after treatment compared to before enhanced external counterpulsation. Significant improvement is achieved in physical summary score of quality of life of patients after enhanced external counterpulsation. It appears that beyond 3 months this improvement continues to be significant in all the subscales of physical summary score. Therefore enhanced external counter pulsation can be used as noninvasive and effective treatment to increase quality of life in patients with angina