Relationships between fatigue and early postoperative recovery outcomes over time in elderly patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery.
BACKGROUND
Despite successful coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, some patients continue to experience fatigue after their surgery.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this secondary analysis study was to examine the relationships of fatigue and early recovery outcomes (psychosocial and physiologic functioning, and physical activity) over time (6 weeks and 3 months) among older adult subjects, age 65 years and older, after CABG surgery. Comparison groups were those subjects who had fatigue at 3 weeks after surgery and nonfatigued subjects.


METHODS
A prospective, comparative design was used for this secondary analysis study.


METHODS
Subjects in this study were drawn from the control group of subjects enrolled in the larger parent study. Subjects (N = 119) were dichotomized into fatigue (n = 66) and nonfatigued (n = 53) groups on the basis of their 3-week self-reports of postoperative fatigue.


RESULTS
At 6 weeks after surgery, fatigued subjects had significantly (P < .05) more impaired psychosocial functioning (role-emotional [t = 1.9], social [t = 2.6], and mental [t = 1.9] functioning) on the basis of the Medical Outcome Study Short Form 36. They had significantly (P < .005) higher mean hospital anxiety (t = -3.6) and depression (t = -2.9) subscale scores, respectively. Anxiety (t = -2.3, P < .05) remained significantly (P < .05) impaired at 3 months. At 6 weeks, role physical functioning, measured by the Medical Outcome Study Short Form 36, was significantly impaired (t = 2.4, P < .01). There were no significant differences in physical activity variables as measured by an RT3 accelerometer (Stayhealthy, Inc., Monrovia, CA) and self-report diary.


CONCLUSIONS
Persistent fatigue can hamper early recovery after CABG surgery. Tailored interventions are needed to address fatigue management and improve patient outcomes.
Barnason
Susan
S
University of Nebraska Medical Center, College of Nursing-Lincoln Division, 1230 O Street, STE 131, PO Box 880220, Lincoln, NE 68588-0220, USA.
Zimmerman
Lani
L
Nieveen
Janet
J
Schulz
Paula
P
Miller
Connie
C
Hertzog
Melody
M
Rasmussen
Doris
D
D000368:Aged; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D013997:Time Factors