title: Exercise, quality of life, and symptoms in men and women five to six years after coronary artery bypass graft surgery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery is commonly performed to treat symptoms of heart disease and improve function and quality of life (QL). Health-related behavior including exercise after surgery may promote optimal recovery; however, relationships among exercise behavior, functional status, symptoms, and QL 5 to 6 years after CABG have not been examined in a representative patient sample.
  
  
  METHODS
  Telephone interviews and postal surveys were used to examine long-term (5-6 year) recovery after CABG of 163 men and women of the Minnesota participants enrolled in the Post-CABG Biobehavioral Study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Regular exercise and better functional status were related to reports of less shortness of breath and fatigue and better subjective health perception, satisfaction, and QL.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Positive relationships between regular exercise and more favorable QL and symptom relief 5 to 6 years after CABG in this observational cohort study warrant prospective study trials to determine the potential long-term benefits of regular exercise after CABG.
authors.affiliation: University of Minnesota School of Nursing, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, USA.
authors.forename: Diane J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Treat-Jacobson
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lindquist
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D015331:Cohort Studies; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires