The SF-36 questionnaire: a convenient way to assess quality of life in angina pectoris patients.

Over 4400 stable angina pectoris patients were followed for six months, after the addition of nitroglycerin patches to their usual treatment. Qol items were assessed by means of the SF-36 questionnaire and some clinical parameters were followed as well: during the study, the frequency of attacks decreased regularly and significantly (from 3.49/ week to 0.99/week), as did the amount of sublingual nitroglycerin tablets (from 2.65/day to 0.50/day). All 8 items of the SF-36 questionnaire improved significantly. Moreover, there was a modest, but significant correlation between the decrease in attacks and rescue-medication and the improvement in the Qol. The SF-36 questionnaire appears to be an adequate tool to follow the changes in Qol in stable angina pectoris patients over time.