From Revascularization to Rehabilitation: Quality of Life Outcomes After Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

Abstract

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in India, and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is a major surgical intervention aimed at improving patient outcomes. However, the impact of CABG on patients' health-related quality of life (QoL) across multiple domains remains inadequately explored in Indian hospital settings. This study aimed to assess the quality of life among patients with CAD after CABG and to identify its association with selected socio-demographic variables.

Methodology: A quantitative, non-experimental descriptive research design was adopted. One hundred patients with CAD who had undergone CABG at a selected hospital in Haridwar, Uttarakhand, were recruited through non-probability purposive sampling. Data were collected using a two-part instrument: a structured socio-demographic proforma and a self-structured quality of life questionnaire comprising 40 items (scored 0–1 per item; maximum score 40). Reliability was established by the test-retest method (r = 0.82; CVI = 0.86). Data were analysed using descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation) and inferential statistics (Chi-square test) at α = 0.05 using SPSS.

Results: The majority of participants were male (75%) aged 51–60 years (55%), married (76%), and from the middle socio-economic stratum (76%). Quality of life assessment revealed that 59% had average QoL, 26% had good QoL, 13% had poor QoL, and 1% each had very good and very poor QoL. The mean QoL score was 22.12 ± 5.29. Chi-square analysis demonstrated significant associations between QoL and gender (χ² = 16.224, df = 8, p = 0.039), marital status (χ² = 24.731, df = 4, p = 0.0005), occupation (χ² = 33.525, df = 12, p = 0.0008), socio-economic status (χ² = 36.072, df = 6, p < 0.001), and type of family (χ² = 42.272, df = 4, p < 0.001). Age, education, community type, dietary pattern, and medical history did not show statistically significant associations.

Conclusion: The study established that the majority of post-CABG patients demonstrated average quality of life, with a significant proportion experiencing poor outcomes. Socio-economic status, family type, marital status, occupation, and gender emerged as key determinants of QoL. These findings highlight the need for individualised, nurse-led psychosocial and rehabilitative interventions in cardiac surgical settings to improve post-operative quality of life among CAD patients.