Quality of life in postmyocardial infarction patients in relation to drug therapy.

Quality of life (QL) was assessed in relation to drug therapy in 539 patients who were still alive five years after myocardial infarction (MI), and the interaction between drug therapy and QL was investigated. The patients originally participated in a double-blind trial that evaluated the effect of early administration of the beta blocker metoprolol. A cardiac follow-up questionnaire (CFQ) and the Nottingham Health Profile (NHP) were answered by 82%. In the CFQ, sel-fassessed cardiac symptoms, medication (diuretics, digitalis, antiarrhythmics, long-acting nitrates, beta blockers, psychoactive drugs), smoking habits, and work status were described. NHP described QL within the sections of mobility, energy, pain, sleep, emotional reactions, and social isolation. The independent relation between morbidity, drugs, and QL was analyzed multivariately. Apart from symptoms of angina pectoris and dyspnoea, anxiety resulted in impaired QL. A relation between diuretics and decreased QL was found, but no indications of adverse effects of the beta blocker metoprolol.