Background: Multiple reports have confirmed that quality of life (QoL) in women after myocardial infarction (MI) is worse compared to men of the same age but some variation depending on QoL dimension was also reported. A less studied issue is coping after MI.

Aim: The present study examined whether gender affected the level and dynamics of QoL and coping over 1 year after MI.

Methods: This questionnaire-based study included 3 stages, at the beginning and the end of a rehabilitation programme (n = 222, 163 [73%] men) and 1 year later (n = 140, 98 [70%] men). The MacNew questionnaire was used for evaluating cardiac patient-specific QoL in 3 dimensions: physical, emotional and social. Coping was examined using a modified COPE scale that allows assessment of seven coping strategies.

Results: Compared to women, men had higher levels of emotional and physical QoL at the first and second stage of the study. At the third stage, men and women did not differ in any QoL aspect. Significant gender-time interactions were found for physical QoL (F(2.137) = 8.66; p = 0.001, eta2 = 0.07) and for 2 of 7 coping strategies: sense of humour (F(2.137) = 4.10; p = 0.02, eta2 = 0.06) and turning to religion (F(2.137) = 3.55; p = 0.03, eta2 = 0.05).

Conclusions: Men demonstrated higher levels of physical and emotional QoL during inpatient rehabilitation but no gender-related differences in any QoL dimension were seen at 1 year. The dynamics of physical QoL changes was related to gender, with improvement seen in women and deterioration seen in men. There were also gender-related differences in the dynamics and levels of certain coping strategies. The observed changes in QoL and coping suggest that some of the beneficial effects of rehabilitation could not be maintained over 1 year. These unfavourable changes are more frequent in men.