Field triage to primary percutaneous coronary intervention: Factors influencing health-related quality of life for patients aged ≥70 and <70 years with non-complicated ST-elevation myocardial infarction

• HRQOL is poorer for field triage STEMI patients who had a longer hospitalization.
• Recurrent angina is associated with low HRQOL post-PPCI despite good cardiac QOL.
• Age is a predictor of worse physical HRQOL at 4 weeks and 6 months after PPCI.
• Assessment of HRQOL is important after PPCI for physical and functional recovery.

ObjectiveTo examine clinical and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) outcomes and predictors of HRQOL for uncomplicated field triage ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients aged ≥70 years and <70 years after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI).BackgroundPre-hospital field triage for PPCI is associated with lower mortality but the impact of age and other factors on HRQOL remains unknown.Methods77 field triage STEMI patients were assessed for HRQOL using the Short Form-12 (SF-12) and the Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ) at 4 weeks and 6 months after PPCI.ResultsRegression analysis showed improvements in SF-12 domains and angina stability for older people. Age predicted lower physical function (p = 0.001) and better SAQ QOL at 6 months (p = 0.003).ConclusionAge, length of hospitalization, recurrent angina and hypertension were important predictors of HRQOL with PPCI. Assessment of HRQOL combined with increased support for physical and emotional recovery is needed to improve clinical care for field triage PPCI patients.