Prospective study of quality of life before and after coronary artery bypass grafting.
OBJECTIVE
Measurement of changes in patients' perceptions of how differing states of health affect their lives and determination of the ability of preoperative variables to predict outcome after coronary artery bypass grafting.


METHODS
Prospective study with completion of questionnaires before coronary artery bypass grafting and at three months, one year, and five years afterwards.


METHODS
Regional cardiothoracic centre.


METHODS
100 Male patients all aged below 60 at the time of operation, who were patients of two cardiothoracic surgeons.


METHODS
Patients' assessment of their health state in terms of functional capacity and aspects of distress, according to the Nottingham health profile and outcome of operation in terms of changes in symptoms, working life, and daily activities determined by self completed study questionnaires before operation and at three and six months afterwards.


RESULTS
Intermediate one year results are reported. The differences between the Nottingham health profile scores before operation and at three months afterwards were significantly different (p less than 0.01), indicating an appreciable improvement in general health state, and at one year compared favourably with those from a normal male population. Analysis of responses to the study questionnaire showed that 65 of 89 patients (73%) were working at one year after operation with a further seven (8%) maintaining that they were fit to work but unable to find employment. The proportion of patients complaining of chest pain fell from 90% (88/98) before grafting to 19% (17/89) at one year after coronary artery bypass grafting, when 91% (81/89) patients maintained that their condition was either completely better or definitely improved. The significant positive factors affecting return to work and home activities were working before operation, short wait for operation, absence of breathlessness, and low physical mobility score in the Nottingham health profile (all p less than 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Improvements were evident in general health state, symptoms, and activity at three months and one year after coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Interventions likely to influence outcomes included reduction in waiting times for operation; rehabilitation initiatives; and more attention to the quality of information given to patients, their relatives, and the community.
Caine
N
N
Department of Community Medicine, University of Cambridge.
Harrison
S C
SC
Sharples
L D
LD
Wallwork
J
J
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000473:pathology / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery; D004651:Employment; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012456:Salaries and Fringe Benefits; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors