Gender-Based Differences in Health-Related Quality of Life Among Acute Coronary Syndrome Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study

TL;DR

This study found that gender influences physical and mental health outcomes in patients with heart disease after a common treatment in rural India.

Contribution

The study identifies gender-based differences in HRQoL outcomes among post-PTCA ACS patients in a rural Indian population.

Findings

Male patients had higher physical health scores but lower mental health scores than female patients.

Age, gender, and occupation were significant predictors of physical health outcomes.

Sociodemographic factors strongly influenced HRQoL scores in post-PTCA ACS patients.

Abstract

Background

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) significantly affects patients’ health-related quality of life (HRQoL). However, limited data exist on HRQoL outcomes following percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) in rural Indian populations. This study aimed to assess HRQoL among post-PTCA ACS patients.

Methods

This cross-sectional study evaluated HRQoL in 157 patients with ACS who underwent PTCA at a tertiary care hospital between July 2025 and September 2025. Data were collected using the Short Form Health Survey 12-item (SF-12®v2) questionnaire through convenience sampling. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, and multivariate regression analyses were conducted to explore associations between HRQoL outcomes and sociodemographic variables.

Results

The mean Physical Component Summary (PCS) score was 36.19 ± 8.37, and the Mental Component Summary (MCS) score was 42.19 ± 10.22. Male patients exhibited higher PCS scores (36.54 ± 8.41) and lower MCS scores (40.89 ± 10.20) compared to female patients (PCS: 35.54 ± 8.34; MCS: 43.41 ± 9.51). A significant association was found between sociodemographic variables and HRQoL scores (p < 0.001). Multivariate regression analysis identified age, gender, and occupation as significant predictors of PCS.

Conclusion

ACS substantially impairs HRQoL, particularly among older adults, males, and individuals with lower socioeconomic status. Integrating routine HRQoL assessments and implementing targeted interventions (such as physical rehabilitation, gender-specific psychosocial support, and strategies to mitigate socioeconomic barriers) are essential for improving long-term outcomes and fostering patient-centered care in ACS management.

Figures