title: Limitation of physical activity, dyspnea and chest pain prior to and during two years after coronary artery bypass grafting in relation to a history of hypertension.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the limitation of physical activity, the cause of limitation of physical activity and symptoms of dyspnea and chest pain before and 2 years after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in relation to a history of hypertension.
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients from western Sweden who underwent CABG between 1988 and 1991 were approached with a questionnaire--prior to, 3 months and 2 years after CABG--evaluating the issues raised above.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 2121 patients, 37% had a history of hypertension. By 3 months after CABG, physical activity tolerance had improved markedly and in a similar way for both hypertensive (p<0.001) and non-hypertensive patients (p<0.001); this level was sustained for 2 years. Absence of dyspnea increased markedly and similarly among both hypertensive and non-hypertensive patients (p < 0.001) after CABG. The presence of chest pain decreased markedly and similarly among hypertensive (p<0.001) and non-hypertensive patients (p<0.001), both 3 months and 2 years after compared to prior to the operation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was a marked improvement in terms of physical activity and cardiovascular symptoms 3 months and 2 years after CABG as compared with the situation prior to the operation. A previous history of hypertension did not seem to affect these results.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg, Sweden.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Herlitz
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Caidahl
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Albertsson
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Karlsson
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hartford
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haglid
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lurje
authors.forename: B W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Karlson
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sjöland
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002637:Chest Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000009:adverse effects; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000150:complications; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors