Factors associated with health-related quality of life in patients and significant others one month after coronary artery bypass grafting.
OBJECTIVE
To describe and compare the health-related quality of life of patients and their significant others and to identify factors associated with health-related quality of life one month after coronary artery bypass surgery.


BACKGROUND
Heart disease and coronary artery bypass surgery affect the life of patients and their significant others. Following surgery, some patients might feel their quality of life is poor. Significant others are a major source of support for patients; therefore, it is important to know how their health-related quality of life is affected.


METHODS
This study is part of a major longitudinal research project. The questionnaire data for the study were collected one month after the surgical procedure from 270 patients and 240 significant others at one Finnish university hospital. Data analysis was by descriptive and inferential statistics. Stepwise linear regression analysis was used as a multivariate method.


RESULTS
Coronary artery bypass grafting patients had a poorer health-related quality of life than both the age and gender-standardised general population and their significant others. Significant others, on the other hand, had the same health-related quality of life as the general population. In patients, health-related quality of life was associated with the occurrence of cardiac symptoms and New York Heart Association class; in significant others, it was explained by chronic illnesses, employment, gender and emotional support received from members of the support network.


CONCLUSIONS
In the early stages of recovery, the health-related quality of life of coronary artery bypass grafting patients is inferior to that of the general population. There are also differences in the health-related quality of life of patients and their significant others.


CONCLUSIONS
Postcoronary artery bypass grafting rehabilitation programmes should provide support for both patients and significant others through networks that involve both professionals and peer supporters.
Rantanen
Anja
A
Department of Nursing Science, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland. anja.rantanen@uta.fi
Kaunonen
Marja
M
Sintonen
Harri
H
Koivisto
Anna-Maija
AM
Astedt-Kurki
Päivi
P
Tarkka
Marja-Terttu
MT
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires