Comparison of Nottingham Health Profile (NHP) scores with exercise duration and measures of ischaemia during treadmill exercise testing in patients with coronary artery disease.

A cross-sectional study of patients with stable coronary artery disease was performed to compare perceived health status with the results of a treadmill exercise test. One hundred and twenty one patients, mean age 55.07 years, 106 male, who had all suffered a myocardial infarction under the age of 56 years, up to 9 years earlier were studied. Perceived health status was assessed using the Nottingham Health Profile, part 1 of which assesses six dimensions of normal living, and part 2 seven areas of daily life. Nottingham Health Profile scores were higher (worse perceived health status) in patients with poor treadmill exercise capacity within all dimensions of part 1 (energy, pain, physical mobility P < 0.001, emotional reactions, sleep P < 0.01, social isolation P < 0.05) and most of those within part 2 (care of home, taking holidays P < 0.001, hobbies P < 0.01, relationships at home, sex life P < 0.05). The perceived health status of patients without a history of angina is significantly better than those with angina (pain, physical mobility P < 0.001, energy, emotional reactions, social isolation P < 0.01, sleep P < 0.05, within part 1, taking holidays P < 0.01, care of the home, social life, sex life, hobbies P < 0.05, within part 2). Thus, patients with a poor perceived health status, also have poorer results using more conventional clinical measures of coronary artery disease. The Nottingham Health Profile may be a useful adjunct in patient assessment.