[Psychological, behavioral and occupational status changes after an aortocoronary bypass intervention]

BACKGROUND. Studies on the quality of life after coronary artery by-pass grafting (CABG) have yielded discordant results. Several studies have described psychological and social improvements while others have reported a lack of change in behavioural risk factors and return to work. There have been no reports on Italian patients, and, because of the wide range of psychological measures used in previous studies, it is difficult to draw any general conclusions. The aim of this study was to assess the psychological sequelae of CABG. METHODS. A total of 164 patients (142 men and 22 women, aged 60 years) with myocardial ischemia, completed the CBA-H Questionnaire 3-5 days before elective CABG and again after 6 months. RESULTS. State anxiety scores were lower after surgery (p < .000) as were health fears (p < .000), depression (p < .009) and life stress (p < or = .000) scores. There were also improvements in well-being (p < .003), affective relationships (p < .000) and sexual relations (p < .0007). There was a decline in behavioural risk factors, namely: smoking behaviour (p < .09), alcohol consumption (p < .002), over-eating (p < .0000) and sedentary life-style (p < .02). Clinical post-operative complications did not negatively influence patients' psychological state and return to work. Preoperative health fears (p < .04) and social anxiety (p < .02) did influence patients' return to work. CONCLUSIONS. In conclusion, psychosocial function, health state and quality of the life generally improved after elective CABG. Return to work was found to be an unreliable measure of the success of surgery. Pre- and post-operative data revealed a general denial trait which identifies patients at greater risk of cardiovascular events after CABG.