Lifestyle practices, health problems, and quality of life after coronary artery bypass grafting

Severe coronary artery disease continues to be a major health problem in India, and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is the accepted modality of treatment. Post-operative long-term quality of life depends on the healthy lifestyle practices and appropriate control of risk factors. We tried to bring out the patient awareness and their practices after the surgery and their implications on their quality of life (QOL).

Five hundred patients who completed 6 months after isolated CABG were interrogated for their lifestyle practices, health problems, and quality of life using a structured questionnaire. Those who underwent additional cardiac procedures, redo CABG, and coronary interventions after CABG were excluded.

Eighty percent were in good functional class (NYHA I, II). Detailed evaluation showed that only 11.6% adhered to healthy lifestyle practices. Obesity, uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, uncontrolled hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia continued to be problems in 9.6, 20.2, 35, and 48.4%, respectively. Quality of life was assessed to be good in 27.6%, average in 46.4%, and poor in 26%. Psychological evaluation showed that 23% were significantly anxious and 20% had significant depression. Pre-operative diagnosis and left ventricular function at discharge influenced the QOL. Unhealthy lifestyle practices and failure to attain risk factor reduction adversely affected the quality of life.

This study emphasises the need for aggressive counselling as well as continuing health education to improve patient awareness about adopting healthy lifestyle practices after CABG to improve the quality of life.