Measurement of sleep and quality of life before and after coronary artery bypass grafting: a pilot study

The aim of this study was to: (i) test different instruments that focused on sleep, quality of life and personal adjustment in order to evaluate the usefulness of these instruments in a larger study; and (ii) to describe self perceptions of sleep and life situation by patients who had undergone coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). A one-group pre-test repeated post-test design was used. Six men aged between 51 and 70 years were interviewed, and 24 h polysomnographic recordings were performed before and after the operation. The interviews indicated disturbed sleep and changes in behaviour and mental state immediately postoperatively. Postoperatively the polysomnographic recordings revealed a significant decrease in mean duration of sleep, mean percentage of stage 3-4 sleep and mean rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. One month after surgery the quality of life was improved, while moderate anxiety and sensation of incisional pain persisted. The measurements used in this pilot study provide valuable information into the understanding of altered sleep, quality of life and personal adjustment following CABG.