Background

To describe the levels of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) attained and the magnitude of the effect of myocardial revascularization surgery.

Method

Prospective descriptive study that, using the SF-12v2 health questionnaire and different socio-demographic and clinical variables, evaluated during a two-year follow-up the HRQoL of patients who had received myocardial revascularization surgery in the Cardiac Surgery service.

Results

One hundred and seventy-five patients were included with an average age of 67 years (range 45-84), 85.1% men. Seventy-two point five percent received complete revascularization surgery and 80.8% received a multiple bypass; the average EuroSCORE was 5.3%. The preoperative scores of the summary components of the SF-12v2 reflected a lower physical HRQoL (MHQ 49.4; SD: 23.4) than mental HRQoL (PHQ 74.8; SD: 20.2), and all the dimensions increased one year after surgery, especially those for physical health (PHQ increased 36.8%, p<0.001). Two years later all the dimensions decreased with respect to those of the first year (except Bodily Pain). Scores remained significantly above preoperative ones in the physical health dimensions (PHQ increased 23.9%, p<0.001) and the dimensions of Vitality and Emotional Role decreased significantly. Women showed significantly worse levels of HRQoL than men; no other determinant factors of postoperative HRQoL were found.

Conclusions

HRQoL during the two-year follow-up after myocardial revascularization improved significantly but without reaching the levels of the general Spanish population. The female sex showed significantly lower levels of postoperative health.