Quality of Life-Associated Factors among Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery as Measured Using the WHOQOL-BREF : Cardiovascular Topic

ABSTRACT

This was a study of the pre-operative factors that influence quality of life (QoL) in patients with coronary artery disease and the relationship between pre-operative QoL and early outcome after coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG). Using the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire; 283 patients who underwent isolated coronary artery bypass surgery were interviewed and scores were obtained for the physical; psychological; social and environmental components. The study found that the independent physical component predictors for higher QoL included male gender and diabetes mellitus; while the independent psychological component predictors were male gender and high ejection fraction. Males; diabetics and patients with low education levels had higher social well-being than others. Among the postoperative complications; only respiratory failure was found to have a relationship with physical and psychological components. Women with coronary artery disease who were candidates for CABG had lower scores than the men in respect of all components of QoL. Furthermore; a lower pre-operative psychological score in patients undergoing CABG can influence postoperative complications; especially respiratory failure