[Psychosocial factors determining life expectancy of patients undergoing open heart surgery]

Not only the physical status of the patient and the clinical variables determine the outcome and recovery following open heart surgery. Psychosocial and socioeconomic factors have growing importance regarding this field. During the last decades, in the assessment of the results of revascularization the self-perceived health related quality of life of the patient has come into the limelight. Evidence suggests that self-perceived health related quality of life, depressive symptoms and anxiety together influence short and long term recovery following coronary bypass surgery. There is also a higher risk for morbidity and mortality among the lonely and the socially isolated. Lower education and poor social background may play a role in the higher mortality rates. In our review we summarize the psychosocial factors determining the outcome of heart surgery.