Quality of life in patients with coronary heart disease before and six months after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG)

Abstract

Introduction: Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is one of the most effective ways of treating coronary heart disease. It can significantly relieve patients’ symptoms of myocardial ischemia and hypoxia and improve their quality of life (QoL). The aim of this study was to explore QoL among patients with coronary heart disease before and six months after CABG.

Material Methods: In the present study were enrolled 115 patients who underwent CABG. Data collection was performed by the completion of the “Short Form Survey” (SF-36) Greek version which included patients’ characteristics. The level of statistical significance was set at p <0.05.

Results: Of the 115 participants, 74.8% were men while 42.6% was 60-69 years old, and 71.3% had positive family history of cardiac disease. Moreover, 41.7% underwent a single vessel CABG. Patients showed significant improvement in QoL six months after surgery in all dimensions of the SF-36 scale, p<0.001. More in detail, the results showed the following values between before CABG and 6 months measurements physical functioning 54.1±25.2 vs 78.7±13.2 (p<0.001), physical role 41.0±28.8 vs 65.0±23.2 (p<0.001), bodily pain 42.0±24.4 vs 73.7±19.0 (p<0.001), general health 44.3±23.5 vs 63.5±19.1 (p<0.001), vitality 33.8±21.9 vs 61.3±18.4 (p<0.001), social functioning 34.2±25.7 vs 62.9±17.7 (p<0.001), emotional role 47.3±30.9 vs 66.0±27.7 (p<0.001), and mental health 43.2±25.4 vs 64.3±21.5 (p<0.001).

Conclusion: The present study showed overall significant improvement six months after CABG. Sociodemographic and clinical factors were associated with QoL.