Coronary artery bypass grafting: Quality of life of patients in Karachi

In the Third World, cardiac patients often suffer not only from the nature of their illnesses, but also the insufficiency of the facilities available. Although the effectiveness of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is being evaluated in terms of mortality, complications or recurrence of symptoms, empirical studies assessing the change in patients' quality of life (QOL) after CABG within the Pakistani cultural context are lacking. Aims: The aims of the present study are to assess and compare the change in health-related quality of life before and 1 month after CABG and to assess the differences in QOL with respect to age, gender and cardiac rehabilitation programme attendance. Method: A prospective single group pre- and poststudy design was used, whereby patients completed a questionnaire before and 1 month after surgery. Questions considered the person's physical capacity, psychological wellbeing, social relationships and satisfaction from their health condition. Results: The results indicated a significant improvement in patients' physical and psychological health, satisfaction with social relationships and overall health status. Younger patients showed significantly lower scores on the social domain (reflecting greater dissatisfaction with their sex life and personal relationships). Female participants showed significantly lower scores in psychological health post surgery. Lastly, participants of the cardiac rehabilitation programme scored significantly higher in psychological health compared with non-participants. Conclusion: QOL improved from prior to and 1 month after CABG while differing (in specific domains) with respect to age, gender and cardiac rehabilitation programme attendance. The findings can be used to develop interventions to improve health and QOL in specific domains with respect to specific groups.