Quality of life 15 years after coronary artery bypass grafting

To describe changes in quality of life (QoL) during 15 years after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and prediction of impaired QoL after 15 years.

All patients in western Sweden who underwent primary CABG without simultaneous valve surgery between 1988 and 1991 were included. QoL during a period of 15 years after CABG was evaluated with three instruments: the Nottingham Health Profile, the Psychological General Well-Being Index, and the Physical Activity Score.

A total of 2000 patients took part in the survey, (none excluded) of whom 808 were still alive after 15 years and 79% answered the inquiry. Despite an ongoing decline in QoL over the years, an improvement in QoL was maintained in most sub-dimensions at the 15-year follow-up compared with that prior to surgery. Seven factors emerged as predictors of impaired QoL 15 years after CABG. They are as follows: (i) high age, (ii) female sex, (iii) history of diabetes, (iv) obesity, (v) prolonged stay in the intensive care unit, (vi) prolonged treatment on a ventilator, (vii) need for inotropic drugs at the time of surgery; of which the latter three might be secondary to left ventricular dysfunction.

Despite an ongoing decline in QoL over the years, there was still an improvement in most aspects of QoL 15 years after CABG compared with that before surgery. Intensified early treatment of diabetes, obesity, and left ventricular dysfunction in CABG patients might allow an even better long-term QoL.