Quality of life, bypass surgery and the elderly.
OBJECTIVE
To examine changes in health-related quality of life (HQOL) following coronary artery bypass surgery (CABS) in elderly patients and to compare patient ratings with proxy ratings.


METHODS
Descriptive, nonrandomized, prospective study.


METHODS
Patients from a single primary care facility in a major urban centre within a one-year period.


METHODS
All eligible patients undergoing CABS at the site within a one-year period were approached for study participation. The study sample consisted of 18 patients 65 years of age or older and 18 proxies at baseline. Fourteen patients and 13 proxies completed follow-up assessments.


METHODS
All patients underwent CABS. HQOL was studied using the Sickness Impact Profile (SIP) and the Psychological Well-Being Schedule (PGWB).


RESULTS
Significant improvements were noted in physical, social and psychological functioning (P < 0.05). Proxies' reports provided good indications of patient functioning for these dimensions with significant differences found only for certain preoperative measures including the total SIP score and the Anxiety and Depression subscales of the PGWB (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Patients 65 years of age and older accrue improvements in HQOL following CABS. Such findings may influence the allocation and justification of various medical procedures. Proxy ratings closely reflected the patients' own ratings and may therefore be considered a reliable, alternate source of information.
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Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Alberta.
Verhoef
M J
MJ
Emes
C G
CG
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires