Quality of Life in Women Following Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery on the quality of life of women. Wilson and Cleary’s conceptual model of health-related quality of life, which examines five major outcomes (biological variables, symptom status, functional status, general health perceptions, perceived quality of life), was used. Participants included 61 women who provided information by self-report questionnaires before and three months after surgery. The major findings of the study are that women had significantly improved quality of life (p = .004) due to increased satisfaction with health and functioning (p < .001) at three months following CABG surgery. They experienced less angina (p < .001) and shortness of breath (p = .014), although fatigue was unrelieved for the majority of women. Psychological well being improved after surgery for most women (p < .001), with lower anxiety levels (p < .001), greater levels of well being (p = .021), feelings of health (p < .001) and vitality (p = .023). Women reported less use of emotive coping (p = .043), indicating less emotional distress. Nevertheless, 25% of the sample continued to experience severe psychological distress three months after surgery, indicating the need for continued follow-up.