title: Health-related quality of life and subjective neurocognitive function three months after coronary artery bypass graft surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We compared health-related quality of life (HRQL), including patient-perceived neurocognitive function at preoperative baseline and 3 months after coronary artery bypass (CABG) surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  The design was prospective and comparative.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study took place in the cardiovascular units at two large metropolitan Midwestern hospitals.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included a consecutive convenience sample of 64 patients who underwent CABG.
  
  
  METHODS
  Preoperative baseline and mailed survey at 3 months post-CABG included the Short-Form 12 (subjective health-status), State Trait Anxiety Inventory (state anxiety), Center for Epidemiological Studies of Depression (depressive symptoms), and Cantril Ladder of Life Satisfaction (global life satisfaction). Investigator-developed questions assessed satisfaction in life domains, cardiac symptoms, and frequency of symptoms related to neurocognitive function.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant improvements were demonstrated 3 months postoperatively, including the Physical Component Summary, Mental Component Summary, depression, anxiety, satisfaction with social and mental life domains, and patient-perceived neurocognitive function related to memory and concentration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients reported improvements in HRQL measures, including two of three subjective neurocognitive measures. Health care providers facilitate preparation for the CABG recovery trajectory by discussing expected post-hospital experience and potential postoperative variations in emotions and neurocognitive function.
authors.affiliation: Bethel University, St Paul, Minnesota 55113, USA.
authors.forename: Kristin E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Sandau
authors.forename: Ruth A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Lindquist
authors.forename: Diane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Treat-Jacobson
authors.forename: Kay
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Savik
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000150:complications; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000523:psychology*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000523:psychology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life; D020127:Recovery of Function; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric