Beating heart against cardioplegic arrest studies (BHACAS 1 and 2): quality of life at mid-term follow-up in two randomised controlled trials.
OBJECTIVE
Off-pump coronary bypass grafting (OPCAB) has short-term benefits compared to conventional bypass grafting using the heart-lung machine (CABG-CPB) but may compromise longer term outcome. We aimed to compare generic and disease specific quality of life (QoL) two to four years after surgery in participants in two randomised controlled trials of OPCAB vs. CABG-CPB.


RESULTS
Trial participants were sent four questionnaires (SF-36, EuroQol/EQ5D, Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ) and Coronary Revascularisation Outcome Questionnaire (CROQ)) to assess generic and disease-specific quality of life (QoL). Of 401 participants, 22 (5.5%) had died; of the 379 survivors, 328 responded (86.5%; 159 CABG-CPB and 169 OPCAB). Median duration of follow-up was three years. QoL scores for both groups were very similar and differences between groups were not significant (p>0.05 for all questionnaires and dimensions). Summary SF-36 scores showed poorer than normal physical QoL but normal mental QoL. Among all responders, there was a tendency for CROQ scores (core total, physical and psychosocial functioning and satisfaction with treatment) to deteriorate with time after the operation (p< or =0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Two to four years after surgery, patients randomised to OPCAB and CABG-CPB had similar symptoms, generic and disease-specific QoL.
Ascione
Raimondo
R
Bristol Heart Institute, University of Bristol, Bristol Royal Infirmary, Bristol BS2 8HW, UK.
Reeves
Barnaby C
BC
Taylor
Fiona C
FC
Seehra
Harpreet K
HK
Angelini
Gianni D
GD
D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000209:etiology; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000379:methods*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006324:Heart Arrest, Induced / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000601:surgery*; D011788:Quality of Life; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors