Health-Related QOL, Physical Activity, and Social Support in Saudi Patients with Cardiac Disease

Abstract

Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD) is known as a leading cause of death and disability adjusted life years in recent decades, especially in Saudi Arabia. Higher levels of physical activity (PA) and perceived social support (PSS) were positively associated with improved outcomes like health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with IHD. Despite the established knowledge of HRQoL, PA, and PSS levels and associations globally, they have yet to be studied in Saudi patients with IHD. Purpose: The purpose of this dissertation is to explore the current levels of HRQoL, PA, and PSS in Saudi patients with IHD, examine the potential associations among HRQoL, PA, and PSS, and test the potential mediating role of PA on the potential association between PSS and HRQoL. Methods: Using a cross-sectional design, 208 Saudi patients with IHD were enrolled and interviewed prior to their hospital discharge. Data were collected using Demographics and Clinical Characteristics Questionnaire, Five-Dimension and Five-Level EuroQoL, Global Physical Activity Questionnaire, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, and medical record data extraction. Results: The mean of HRQoL was 7.52 (SD= 2.78), PA intensity 2104.46 (SD= 4066.89) MET minutes/week, and duration 96.55 (SD= 156.80) minutes/week, and the PSS mean was 5.69 (SD= 0.99). Despite the improved levels of HRQoL, PA, and PSS, group differences were found in female, older, unmarried, and less educated participants. PA categorical variable (threshold ≥600 MET minutes/week) was positively significantly associated with HRQoL in the unadjusted (partial r=-0.16, p=0.02) and adjusted models for age, sex, education, and marital status (partial r=-0.17, p=0.01). PSS was significantly associated with HRQoL only in the unadjusted model (partial r = -0.16, p = 0.02). Moreover, there was no association between PSS and PA (categorical variable) in both models. The indirect effect of PA on the association between PSS and HRQoL was insignificant (r=-0.06, p=0.93), indicating no mediation effect. Conclusions: The current findings establish knowledge about HRQoL, PA, and PSS levels and associations in Saudi patients hospitalized with IHD. Further research to explore the dynamics in which PA and HRQoL are associated in a larger sample, and utilizing device-assisted measurement for PA, is needed.