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PURPOSE: Coronary artery disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States for both men and women. Patients actively participating in cardiac rehabilitation programs obtain both physiological and psychological benefits that have a significant positive impact on their quality of life. However, women have been underrepresented in research on cardiovascular disease and on the rehabilitation process. The purpose of this study was to determine if there were gender differences in perceptions of quality of life in cardiac rehabilitation patients. METHODS: Convenience sampling with blocking for age was used in the selection of 87 women and 87 men from 6 cardiac rehabilitation programs in Louisiana. RESULTS: Using the Ferrans and Powers Quality of Life Index--Cardiac Version, the t-test for independent samples revealed significant gender differences. Men's mean scores were significantly higher than women's mean scores on overall quality of life scores and each of the four subscales. The men's scores were significantly higher as follows: overall (P = .0026), health and functioning (P = .004), socioeconomic (P = .012), psychological/spiritual (P = .026), and family (P = .001). An additional finding indicated that men had a significantly higher number of invasive cardiac procedures (P = .0026). CONCLUSION: From the results of this study, individualized and gender-specific plans of care need to be directed at clients with cardiovascular disease.