Researchers conducted chart reviews for each study subject at the time of enrollment and HRQOL was evaluated at baseline and at 6 and 12 months after revascularization in patients treated with DES. The baseline questionnaires were completed in hospital at the time of the initial revascularization procedure, subsequent questionnaires were sent by mail. Those patients who did not respond to the mailed survey more than 2 weeks were contacted by telephones. We relied on previously validated questionnaire namely the Short-Form 36 (SF-36) health survey [8 (link)] to assess the patients overall healthy perception. This general HRQOL instrument was chosen rather than more specific tools since it provides an assessment of subjects’ own perception of their quality of life as a function of their general state of health. SF-36 includes 36-item scales measuring the following 8 health domains: physical functioning, role limitations due to physical problems, bodily pain, general health perceptions, vitality, social function, role limitations due to emotional problems, and mental health, as well as health change over the past year. Summary scores are derived by collapsing the 8 subscales, each scale ranges from 0 to 100, with a higher score corresponding to a better HRQOL. The 8 specific domains of physical and emotional scores can be summarized into 2 main scores: the Physical Component Score (PCS) and Mental Component Score (MCS).
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