Illness perception patterns in patients with Coronary Artery Disease

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Psychology
• Health Psychology

Background:

• Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) significantly impacts patients' lives.
• Understanding illness perception is crucial for managing chronic conditions.
• Previous research highlights varied patient experiences with chronic diseases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify distinct patterns of illness perception in patients diagnosed with Coronary Artery Disease.
• To analyze how these perception patterns correlate with Health Related Quality of Life, anxiety, depression, and resilience.

Main Methods:

• Cluster analysis of the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire was performed on 166 CAD patients.
• Patient groups were assessed using measures for Quality of Life (MacNew), anxiety (GAD-7), depression (PHQ-9), and resilience (RS-13).

Main Results:

• Four distinct patient groups emerged based on perceptions of physical and emotional disease impact.
• Stronger perceived impact was linked to lower Health Related Quality of Life and increased emotional distress.
• Group 1 showed the highest perceived impact, lowest treatment control, and most depression; Group 2 had moderate impact with low coherence; Groups 3 & 4 had less impact but varied on chronicity.

Conclusions:

• Illness perception patterns significantly influence the well-being of Coronary Artery Disease patients.
• Stratifying patients by illness perception may offer avenues for tailored patient-physician communication.
• Further research is warranted to validate these findings and their clinical utility.