Patients reported health-related quality of life five years post coronary artery bypass graft surgery--a methodological study.
BACKGROUND
The number of individuals undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery (CABGS) to treat coronary artery disease is steadily increasing.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of the study was to describe the cohort's characteristics, their angina and breathless symptoms and report health-related quality of life (HRQoL) five years after CABGS.


METHODS
One hundred and twenty-eight patients participated in the follow-up study using the quality of life Short-Form 36 (SF-36) questionnaire. Angina and breathless symptoms were also recorded.


RESULTS
One hundred and nine patients were interviewed (face-to-face) and 19 completed postal questionnaires. The SF-36 component summaries of the face-to-face patients indicated that their physical (PCS) and mental (MCS) health was relatively good (45.8 and 53.6, respectively, with 0=worst health and 100=best health and 50 being the mean score), compared to the postal patients' mean PCS of 30.8 (p<.001). The postal MCS was also lower but not statistically significant (49.6, p=.081). At follow-up, the majority of patients were asymptomatic in terms of angina and breathlessness compared to their pre-operative status.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings demonstrate that patient perceived HRQoL five years after CABGS is generally good and patients remain relatively asymptomatic although data collection methods highlight differences in physical HRQoL.
Lee
Geraldine A
GA
Baker Heart Research Institute, Preventive Cardiology, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. geraldine.lee@baker.edu.au
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology*; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012380:Role; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014739:Victoria