ABSTRACT
Long waiting lists for coronary artery by-pass grafting often mean that patients have to endure a prolonged period of pre-operative disability, a known poor prognostic factor for their future quality of life and employment prospects. A survey of 60 patients who attended a post-operative rehabilitation course designed to restore their fitness and self-esteem, and hence their quality of life, has shown encouraging results. When questioned a mean 16 months later, 85 per cent are working and significant improvements have been seen in all four quality of life indicators assessed: job satisfaction, family life, social life and sex life. Significant improvements are also seen in their symptoms. Cardiac rehabilitation should be made more available following coronary artery by-pass grafting.
Subject(s)
Coronary Artery Bypass/rehabilitation , Quality of Life , Adult , Employment/psychology , Humans , Job Satisfaction , Middle Aged , Physical Fitness , Self Concept , Social Conditions , Surveys and QuestionnairesSubject(s)
Coronary Disease/epidemiology , Military Medicine , Adult , Humans , Male , Risk , United KingdomABSTRACT
Fasting serum gastrin was determined in 30 Chinese patients with duodenal ulcer, 43 Chinese patients with gastric ulcer, 23 Chinese control subjects, 14 European control subjects and ten Indian control subjects. Basal and pentagastrin-stimulated peak acid outputs were also determined in the Chinses patients with duodenal or gastric ulceration. The mean (+/- SD) basal serum gastric level for Chinese controls and Chinese patients with duodenal and gastric ulcer were 24-6 pg/ml (+/- 13.7 pg/ml), 18-5 pg/ml (+/- 8-9 pg/ml), and 33-9 pg/ml (+/- 27-7 pg/ml), respectively. Statistical analysis showed no significant difference between the Chinese control subjects and the Chinese patients with duodenal or gastric ulcer, but the mean fasting serum gastrin level of Chinese gastric ulcer patients was significantly higher than that of Chinese duodenal ulcer patients. Comparison of the mean fasting serum gastrin level of the Chinese, European, and Indian control subjects showed no significant difference. Statistical analysis also showed no significant correlation between fasting serum gastrin level and both basal and peak acid outputs, in Chinese patients with duodenal or gastric ulcer.
