Improvement in quality of life during 5 years after coronary artery bypass grafting.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the changes in various aspects of quality of life (QOL) from before coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) to 5 years after the procedure.


METHODS
Patients who underwent CABG in the western region of Sweden in 1988-1991 were approached with questionnaires evaluating their QOL prior to and 3 months and 1, 2, and 5 years after the operation. Three different instruments were used: the Nottingham Health Profile, the Psychological General Well-Being Index, and the Physical Activity Score.


RESULTS
In all 2121 patients underwent CABG, of whom 310 died during 5 years of follow-up. With all three instruments QOL had improved 5 years after CABG compared with prior to the operation. However, all three instruments revealed a slight but significant deterioration in estimated QOL between 2 and 5 years after CABG.


CONCLUSIONS
QOL 5 years after CABG is better than that prior to the operation, but between 2 and 5 years after the operation a slight deterioration in QOL is observed.
Herlitz
J
J
Division of Cardiology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg, Sweden.
Haglid
M
M
Wiklund
I
I
Caidahl
K
K
Karlson
B W
BW
Sjöland
H
H
Karlsson
T
T
D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000601:surgery*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011788:Quality of Life; D013997:Time Factors