Trajectories of health-related quality of life and associated factors after percutaneous coronary intervention

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a leading cause of morbidity worldwide. The first six months after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are a recovery period during which health-related quality of life (HRQoL) varies substantially across patients. We examined latent trajectories of physical and mental HRQoL after PCI and associated factors. This was a secondary analysis of a single-centre prospective cohort study of 139 Korean patients with CAD followed for six months after PCI. HRQoL was measured within one week after PCI (baseline) and at 3 and 6 months; anxiety and depressive symptoms, illness perception, health literacy, social support, and sociodemographic and clinical characteristics were assessed at baseline. Latent-class linear mixed models grouped patients following a similar course over time, and factors associated with class membership were examined using Firth-penalised logistic regression. Three physical component summary (PCS) trajectories were identified. The stable-high class ( n = 87, 62.6%) remained near the general-population average of 50 throughout (50.6 at baseline to 51.9 at 6 months). The declining class ( n = 29, 20.9%) started near that level but deteriorated steadily (44.7 to 36.4). The recovering class ( n = 23, 16.5%) started well below it and reached it by six months (33.9 to 51.7). Two mental component summary (MCS) trajectories were identified: stable-high ( n = 126, 90.6%; 53.7 to 55.2) and declining ( n = 13, 9.4%; 45.2 to 37.8). Higher illness perception (adjusted OR = 1.10, 95% CI 1.03–1.16) and higher depressive symptoms (adjusted OR = 1.27, 95% CI 1.03–1.57) were associated with the recovering PCS class; no covariate was associated with either declining class. Membership in the physical recovering trajectory was associated with more negative illness perception and higher depressive symptoms at T0 and not with conventional clinical risk factors. Because these characteristics were recorded concurrently with the baseline HRQoL assessment, they are best interpreted as markers of the condition early after PCI rather than as prognostic predictors of recovery. Further research is needed to replicate these associations and test interventions tailored to trajectory classes. Clinical Research Information Service Republic of Korea, KCT0010720. ( https://cris.nih.go.kr/ ). Registered 4 July 2025 (retrospectively registered).