Health-Related Quality of Life in Cardiovascular Patients

A modern definition of health goes beyond the biological dimension to encompass human functionality and well-being. Quality of life is one of the most popular health-related concepts and simultaneously reflects several dimensions of individual health. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is taken to include physical, psychological, and social aspects of positive well-being as well as negative effects of illness, treatment, and infirmity. Quality of life outcomes are now considered an important indicator of the success of both diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. In this book, recognized experts discuss the findings of various studies, including their own, regarding HRQoL in patients with cardiovascular diseases. The impact of the newest forms of medical treatment on well-being is considered in patients with arterial hypertension, coronary artery disease, heart failure, arrhythmias, and stroke as well as in patients who have undergone interventional procedures or have implantable cardiac devices. By summarizing established facts and presenting new data, this book will be an invaluable source of information for all practitioners in the field.

Kalina Kawecka-Jaszcz is Professor at Jagiellonian University Medical College in Krakow, founding member of Polish Society of Hypertension. Her main scientific interests are pathogenesis including genetics (member of Steering Committee for SYST-EUR and EPOGH), management and quality of life in hypertension. She is the author of over 500 papers and received many scientific awards i.e. International Society of Hypertension.

Mark Klocek, MD, PhD, a specialist in internal medicine and hipertensiology. He works at the I-st Department of Cardiology and Hypertension at Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland. Dr. Klocek's main scientific interests are diagnosis and management of arterial hypertension, blood vessels structure and function, and impact of treatment methods on health-related quality of life in patients with cardiovascular diseases.

Professor Beata Tobiasz-Adamczyk, PhD;  Medical sociologist; Head of Chair of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine , and Department of Medical Sociology, Jagiellonian University, Medical  College. Main interest of research activity: health-related quality of life in chronic conditions and in older age.

Professor Chris Bulpitt trained as a Clinician but also as a Clinical Epidemiologist and a Clinical Pharmacologist. This interest in medicines and population outcomes naturally led to an interest in Quality of Life and how measures of this should be incorporated in clinical studies,especially in randomised controlled trials. He has published extensively on both QoL and trial methodology and outcomes.