Generic tools for measuring health-related quality of life in coronary artery disease

Epidemiological data on cardiovascular burden have already raised the awareness of physicians, public health workers, scientists and health-policy makers throughout the world to understand the predisposing factors of this leading cause of death. From the patient's point of view, outcome assessment, measured as overall improvement in quality of life, is far more important than the clinical and biological end points usually favored by clinicians. Health-related quality of life refers to a multitude of subjective and objective experiences, among which health, wellbeing, the ability to function in day-to-day activities and respondents' feelings are essential. Health-related quality-of-life measurement has been established as a prognostic factor in a variety of cardiovascular diseases; however, nonexperts remain skeptical about the value of health-related quality-of-ife tools. This paper introduces the concept of generic health-related quality-of-life instruments so as to help clinicians and health professionals to have a better understanding of these tools and their application in both research and clinical environments.