Matters of the heart : unravelling the implications of coronary artery disease on post-menopausal women and their partners

Abstract

This study explored the biopsychosocial implications of coronary artery disease (CAD) on the quality of life of postmenopausal women and their partners. It focused on two sub-questions: (1) How does CAD affect postmenopausal women’s life satisfaction and psychological wellbeing? and (2) What implications does CAD have on the partners of post- menopausal women? A qualitative design was used, with data analysed through Reflective Thematic Analysis. Ten participants (five post-menopausal women with CAD and their male partners) were recruited via purposive and snowball sampling, respectively. Data collection involved 20 Single Question Aimed at Inducing Narrative interviews, coded using NVivo, guided by the Dynamic Biopsychosocial Model and Rolland’s Family Systems Illness Model. Eight themes emerged: (1) Physical Implications, (2) Psychological Wellbeing, (3) Identity Perplexity, (4) Echoes of Solitude, (5) Impact on Intimate Relationships, (6) Navigating the Emotional Terrain of Chronic Illness, (7) Balancing Act: Coping Mechanisms Amidst CAD Stressors, and (8) Post-Traumatic Growth. The findings highlighted CAD’s complex nature, which evolves with disease progression and extends beyond the individual, affecting the dyadic system. Despite its negative biopsychosocial effects, positive outcomes also emerged, including stronger relational bonds and personal growth. The study recommended several policy and clinical changes, including gender-specific care guidelines for women with CAD and training for healthcare professionals on gender-related symptomatology. It also called for further research into the experiences of children caring for a parent with CAD and the condition’s impact on same-sex couples, among others.