Relation between Quality of Life and Sex of Patients Post Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most prevalent of heart diseases and the main
cause of mortalities in the world today which affect patients’ QOL. Quality of life has
emerged as an important concept and outcome in health and health care. The concept of
quality of life refers to a person or groups perceived physical and mental health over time.
Women with coronary artery disease report worse QOL after coronary artery bypass surgery
when compared with male. A quality of life approach works to ensure that the level of the
well-being of people remains high despite the possibility of increasing number of people with
disabilities or declining abilities. Objective: The study aimed to identify the relation between
quality of life and sex of patients post coronary artery bypass surgery. Setting: The study was
conducted at the open heart outpatient clinic (male & female) at Alexandria Main University
Hospital and Shark El Medina Hospital. Subjects: A convenience sample of 160 adult
patients after CABG, their age ranged from 21up to 60. Tool: One tool was used by the
researcher to collect the data; Quality of Life of Adult Patients Post Coronary Artery Bypass
Surgery. It was divided into two parts; Part I: Sociodemographic data sheet, Part II: "Euro
Quality of life-5 Dimensions (EQ-5D) structure interview schedule". Results: Findings of the
present study revealed that males have higher mean score and higher quality of life related to
mobility, self-care and usual activities as compared with females. There is a high statistical
significant relation between overall average score for EQ-5D and Euro Quality of Life Visual
Analogue Scale (EQVAS) and determinant length period postoperatively. The determinant
length period postoperatively of the study patients is significantly associated with difference
in dimension scores of mobility, self-care, usual activities pain/discomfort, anxiety/depression
dimensions. Moreover group2 (post three months post operatively) have higher mean score
and higher quality of life related to these dimensions as compared to group1 (post one month
and half post operatively. Conclusion: CABG surgery improves patients, QOL, but men
achieved more improvement than women. Patients’ QOL post three months was better than
patients’ QOL post one month and half. Recommendations: Standards of care and guidelines
should be developed to improve the patient's quality of life post CABG especially for women.