The MacNew Heart Disease Health-Related Quality of Life Questionnaire: A Scandinavian Validation Study

Shan Alphin, Stefan Höfer, Joep Perk, Stig Slørdahl, Ann-Dorthe Olsen Zwisler, Neil Oldridge

The aim of this study is to validate the Danish, Norwegian and Swedish versions of the self-administered MacNew Heart Disease Health-related Quality of Life questionnaire in patients with ischemic heart disease. The MacNew questionnaire, the Short Form SF-36, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale were completed at baseline by 976 patients (Denmark n = 353, Norway n = 328, Sweden n = 295) with a diagnosis of angina (n = 335), myocardial infarction (n = 352), or heart failure (n = 289). Each language version of the MacNew satisfied reliability criteria with Cronbach's α values for the total group data (0.90-0.94) as well as the diagnostic group data (0.91-0.96). The test-retest correlations exceeded the criteria for group comparison (r ≥ 0.70) in Danish and Norwegian patients. The multidimensionality of the MacNew was confirmed although the original three-factor solution did not fully meet the criteria for good fit. Convergent and discriminative validity were confirmed in each language and diagnosis group with the exception of discriminative validity in Swedish angina patients. The psychometric properties of the Danish, Norwegian, and Swedish versions of the MacNew are largely confirmed. The MacNew can be recommended as a specific instrument for assessing and evaluating HRQL in Danish, Norwegian, and Swedish patients with angina, MI, and heart failure. However, the MacNew factor structure needs to be revisited in future studies.