Impact of age on improvement in health-related quality of life 5 years after coronary artery bypass grafting.
The aim of this study was to describe the relief of symptoms and improvement in other aspects of health-related quality of life 5 years after coronary artery by-pass grafting in relation to age. Patients in western Sweden were approached with an inquiry prior to surgery and 5 years after the operation. Health-related quality of life was estimated with 3 different instruments: Physical Activity Score (PAS), Nottingham Health Profile (NHP), Psychological General Well-Being Index (PGWB). Prior to surgery patients were approached either in the ward or by post and 5 years after surgery they were approached by post. A total of 1719 patients were available for the survey, of whom 876 (51%) responded to the survey both prior to and after 5 years. Among the 876 respondents 287 were <60 years, 331 were 60-67 years and 258 were >67 years. In terms of physical activity, chest pain and dyspnoea, a similar improvement was observed regardless of age. In terms of health-related quality of life questionnaires, there was an inverse association between age and improvement when using PAS and a similar trend was observed with NHP and PGWB. In conclusion, 5 years after coronary artery bypass grafting relief of symptoms and improvement in physical activity was not associated with age, whereas improvement in other aspects of health-related quality of life tended to be less marked in elderly people. Overall age seemed to have a small impact on the improved well-being 5 years after coronary surgery. However, due to the limited response rate the results may not be applicable to a non-selected coronary artery bypass grafting population.
Herlitz
J
J
Division of Cardiology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg, Sweden.
Wiklund
I
I
Sjöland
H
H
Karlson
B W
BW
Karlsson
T
T
Haglid
M
M
Hartford
M
M
Caidahl
K
K
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D013997:Time Factors