Health‐related quality of life, sense of coherence and leisure‐time physical activity in women after an acute myocardial infarction

Aims and objectives To examine the relationship between leisure‐time physical activity, health‐related quality of life and sense of coherence in women after an acute myocardial infarction, and further to investigate whether these aspects were associated with age. Background Physical activity and health‐related quality of life are vital aspects for patients after an acute myocardial infarction. Design Cross‐sectional. Method All eligible women diagnosed with acute myocardial infarction received a postal questionnaire two to three months after hospital discharge, and 142 women were included. To measure health‐related quality of life and sense of coherence, The MacNew Heart disease questionnaire and the Sense of coherence‐13 scale was used. Results Respondents reporting at least one type of physical activity had significantly higher health‐related quality of life as compared to respondents reporting no kind of physical activity. Respondents reporting physical activity for at least 30 minutes twice a week had significantly higher health‐related quality of life scores than respondents being active less than twice a week. A weak association was found between physical activity level and sense of coherence. Reduction in physical activity after the acute myocardial infarction was associated with reduced health‐related quality of life and sense of coherence. Sense of coherence was significantly associated with age, as respondents 75 years and older had significantly higher scores than respondents younger than 75 years. Conclusions Physical activity, even at a low level, is significantly associated with increased health‐related quality of life and to some extent to sense of coherence. Relevance to clinical practice Tailoring women after an acute myocardial infarction about lifestyle changes must include knowledge about the benefits of leisure‐time physical activity, and that even a small amount of activity is associated with a better health‐related quality of life. The utmost important assignment is to motivate the women for regular physical activity in their leisure‐time. Older women need special attention.