Improved Health-related Quality of Life after Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Is Unrelated to Use of Cardiopulmonary Bypass

This prospective study was instituted to assess whether the use of the on-pump method or the off-pump method affects changes in health-related quality of life (QOL) as evaluated a year after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. Data including preoperative risk factors and postoperative morbidity up to discharge were collected from 508 CABG patients operated in the Heart Center of a university hospital and further treated in secondary referral hospitals. Four hundred and fifty-two (89.0%) patients underwent operation with the on-pump method and 56 (11.0%) with the off-pump method, i.e., without cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). The RAND-36 Health Survey (RAND-36) was used as indicator of QOL. The primary outcome measure was a change in the physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) from the RAND-36. Symptomatic status was estimated according to New York Heart Association (NYHA) class. Assessments were made preoperatively and repeated 12 months later. The majority of patients operated on-pump (85.6%) and off-pump (92.9%) had a favorable outcome without major complications (p = 0.136). The present data showed significant improvement (p < 0.001) in all eight domains of QOL following on-pump CABG. Likewise, off-pump patients improved in all eight aspects, and the change was statistically significant in six dimensions. A highly significant (p < 0.001) pattern of change was seen in the RAND-36 MCS and PCS scores in both operative groups. Differences between the groups were nonsignificant. We conclude that most patients experience significant improvement in health-related QOL during the first year after CABG, and that cardiopulmonary bypass has no effect on patients subsequent health-related QOL, but its use depends on specific indications.     

Perioperative myocardial infarction has negative impact on health-related quality of life following coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

OBJECTIVE: Perioperative myocardial infarction (PMI) is a well-described complication of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Data on its effect on patients' subsequent health-related quality of life (QOL) and on other related consequences is deficient. The aim here was to evaluate in a prospective follow-up design the risk factors for and consequences of PMI and especially its possible impact on health-related QOL. METHODS: Comprehensive data, including preoperative risk profile, perioperative variables and postoperative morbidity up to discharge were collected of 501 CABG patients in the Heart Center of Tampere University Hospital and in all eighteen postoperative care hospitals. Eighty patients (16%) fulfilled ECG or cardiac enzyme criteria for PMI and they were compared to patients with no PMI. The RAND-36 Health Survey (RAND-36) was used as an indicator of QOL. The primary outcomes were change in physical component summary (PCS), mental component summary (MCS) and the eight dimensions of health-related QOL from the RAND-36. Symptomatic status was estimated according to New York Heart Association (NYHA) class. Assessments were made preoperatively and repeated 12 months later. RESULTS: Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified long cardiopulmonary bypass time (P=0.006) and high age (P=0.049) as independent predictors for PMI. Thirty-day mortality was adversely affected by PMI (6.3 vs 1.0%, P=0.001). In discharged patients, the occurrence of PMI did not affect 1-year survival adversely (98.7 vs 98.6%). The PMI patients showed significant (P<0.05) improvements in six of the eight dimensions of RAND-36, but they presented with a negative change in their 'general health' scores at the follow-up. All QOL scores improved significantly (P<0.001) among the patients without PMI. A highly significant (P<0.001) pattern of change was seen in the RAND-36 PCS and MCS scores in both groups although PMI patients showed significantly (P=0.002) smaller change in their PCS scores. Both groups showed similar freedom from anginal symptoms at 1 year (89.6 vs 90.1%) but in the PMI group later readmissions due to cardiac-related causes were more common (23 vs 10%, P=0.002). CONCLUSIONS: PMI increases 30-day mortality and affects also adversely on later health-related QOL following CABG.     

Impact of Obesity on Outcome and Changes in Quality of Life After Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

Background An increasing proportion of patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) are obese and are thought to carry a higher mortality and morbidity in association with surgery, but data on whether health-related quality of life (QOL) improves similarly after CABG in obese and non-obese patients are limited. We assessed in detail the effect of obesity on changes in health-related QOL (RAND-36 Health Survey) during the first year following CABG. Methods Comprehensive data on 508 CABG patients were prospectively collected. One hundred patients (19.7%) were categorized as obese (body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m²). The RAND-36 Health Survey was used as an indicator of quality of life. Assessments were made preoperatively and repeated 12 months later. Results The obese group fared significantly worse than the non-obese group with regard to the likelihood of superficial wound infection (19.0% versus 7.1%, P < 0.001), impaired renal function (31.7% versus 14.4%, P = 0.01), and required on average 2 days longer in hospital (P < 0.05). The incidence of mediastinitis was not significantly higher among the obese patients (2.0% versus 1.2%, P = 0.55), and they less frequently needed postoperative red cell transfusions (29.0% versus 44.9%, P = 0.004). The obese improved significantly (P < 0.001) in 7, and the non-obese (P < 0.001) in all 8 RAND-36 dimensions. Physical Component Summary and Mental Component Summary scores on the RAND-36 improved significantly (P < 0.001) in obese as well as in non-obese patients. Conclusions Although obese patients differ from non-obese patients in that they had inferior QOL before and in the year following CABG, they gain a similar improvement in QOL 1 year after surgery compared with non-obese patients. Excluding superficial wound infection, transient impaired renal function, and slightly longer hospital stay, obesity does not significantly increase the risk of other adverse outcomes during the first year following CABG.     

Health-related quality of life after gastric banding

BACKGROUND: Bariatric surgery ameliorates obesity-associated diseases, resulting in psychological and social benefits. Long-term studies of its effects on quality of life (QOL) assessed with well established instruments are lacking. This prospective study investigated the long-term effects of gastric banding on health-related QOL using an obesity-specific validated measure. METHODS: The Health Related Quality of Life (HRQL) questionnaire was completed by 50 severely obese patients before surgery and at 1, 2.5 and 5 years after gastric banding. Ninety-eight subjects with normal weight, matched for age, sex and education, also completed the HRQL questionnaire as controls. RESULTS: Surgery was successful in all patients. Mean excess weight loss after 1, 2.5 and 5 years was 42.1, 42.2 and 41.6 per cent respectively. General wellbeing, health distress, depression, perceived attractiveness and self-worth improved significantly over the 5 years and, except for general wellbeing, were still improving after 5 years. There were increases in physical activity and work productivity. Successful weight loss was the main determinant of general wellbeing and health distress, and these were adversely affected by band-related complications. In subjects with a body mass index below 30 kg/m(2), scores improved to values for subjects of normal weight. CONCLUSION: Bariatric surgery resulted in sustained improvement in health-related QOL even though not all excess weight was lost. Normalization of health-related QOL may necessitate greater weight losses.     

Open heart surgery: one-year self-assessment of quality of life and functional outcome

BACKGROUND: The aim of this prospective study, based on the completion of the short form health survey questionnaire (SF36) before and 1-year after open heart surgery, was threefold: to evaluate the changes in quality of life (QOL) after open heart surgery, to determine the factors influencing QOL, and to assess the relation between preoperative QOL and 1-year cardiac functional status. METHODS: Logistic regression was used to determine factors that influence patients' QOL scores and their 1-year cardiac functional status. Different groups were constituted in terms of 1-year cardiac functional status by means of an arborescent classification. RESULTS: Comparison of preoperative and postoperative mean scores in the 293 patients included in the study revealed an improvement in all but three dimensions of the SF36 scale. Quality of life improved after operation in an average of 50% of patients. The most frequently found independent predictors of impairment after surgery were NYHA functional class III or IV and angina class III or IV. At 1 year, 64% of patients had satisfactory cardiac functional status. Independent predictive factors of 1-year cardiac functional status were: physical functioning, pain, general health problems, and coronary artery bypass graft. The arborescent classification indicated that the probability of having a "satisfactory" 1-year cardiac functional status was greater than 75% for patients with at least one preoperative QOL dimension above 75 on the scale. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative QOL determined by the SF36 is predictive of 1-year cardiac functional status. Coronary artery bypass patients do not recover as well as patients having undergone heart valve surgery.     

Quality of Life in Patients of Different Age Groups before and after Coronary Artery By-Pass Surgery

Purpose: The study evaluates the changes in quality of life (QOL) six months after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) related to the patients’ age.Methods: The total of 243 consecutive patients completed the Nottingham Health Profile Questionnaire part 1 before and six months after CABG. Postoperative questionnaire was completed by 226 patients. Patients were divided into four examined groups (<50, 50–59, 60–69 and ≥70 years), according to their age.Results: Six months after CABG, the quality of life in different sections has been significantly improved in most patients.The analysis of the relation between the age and the changes in QOL of patients six months after CABG showed a significant correlation among the patients’ age and the improvement of QOL in the sections of physical mobility (r = 0.18, p = 0.008), social isolation (r = 0.17, p = 0.01) and energy ( r = 0.21, p = 0.002). The most prominent improvement was found in older patients. The age was not an independent predictor of QOL deterioration after CABG.Conclusions: The most noticeable improvement of QOL six months after CABG was found in older patients. Age is not the independent predictor of deterioration of QOL after CABG.     

Comparison of the quality of life after conventional versus off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery

PURPOSE: Numerous studies have focused on off-pump coronary artery bypass graft (off-pump CABG) morbidity and mortality outcomes, but few looked at the patient's perception of the technique and its effect on postoperative quality of life (QOL). We investigated and compared postoperative QOL in patients who had undergone either conventional or off-pump CABG myocardial revascularization. METHODS: During a six-month period, 191 patients who underwent CABG surgery were prospectively studied through preoperative and six-month postoperative short-form 36 (SF-36) general health status surveys. One hundred-sixteen (60.7%) off-pump CABG patients and 75 (39.3%) conventional on-pump CABG patients were enrolled. RESULTS: Sixteen (13.8%) off-pump patients reported improvement in physical score QOL, 84 (72.4%) reported no change, and 16 (13.8%) reported a decrease. In comparison, 20 (80.0%) patients in the on-pump CABG group reported an improvement in QOL, 42 (56.0%) were unchanged, and 13 (17.3%) reported deterioration (p = 0.28). For postoperative change in mental score, 19 (16.4%) off-pump patients reported an improvement, 85 (73.3%) stayed unchanged, and 12 (10.3%) reported a decrease compared with 8 (10.7%) conventional CABG patients reporting improvement, 60 (80.0%) showing no change, and 7 (9.3%), having a score decline (p = 0.52). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, hypertension (odds ratio [OR] 2.2, 95% confidence intervals [CI], 1.08 to 4.40, p = 0.03) and multivessel coronary artery disease (OR 2.1, 95% CI, 1.11 to 4.13, p = 0.02) emerged as independent predictors of worse physical score component score. Diabetes was associated with an improved physical score component score after CABG (OR 0.4, 95% CI, 0.17 to 0.76, p = 0.01), regardless of the surgical approach. CONCLUSION: This prospective study reveals no significant differences in the expected QOL at six months after either on-pump or off-pump CABG. Patients with hypertension and multivessel coronary artery disease were more likely to have worse, while patients with diabetes have improved physical score component scores six months after CABG.     

Health-related quality of life following off-pump versus on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting in elderly moderate to high-risk patients: a randomized trial.

OBJECTIVE: Previous trials comparing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) with or without extracorporeal circulation have mainly enrolled selected patients at younger age and low risk. Patient-reported health-related quality of life has not been significantly different. We compared health-related quality of life in elderly moderate to high-risk patients randomized to either off-pump or on-pump surgery. METHODS: The study is a sub-study of the randomized Best Bypass Surgery Trial that compares off-pump to on-pump treatment, with respect to peri- and postoperative mortality and morbidity in patients with a moderate to high-predicted preoperative risk. After randomization and before heart surgery, 120 consecutive patients were asked to fill in the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36 (SF-36) and Major Depression Inventory (MDI) diagnostic scale for self-report of health-related quality of life. Three months after surgery, the same questionnaires were mailed to the patients. RESULTS: The response rate was 96.5%. At baseline, the groups were comparable except for a difference in educational level. Both groups improved in all eight SF-36 domains from baseline to 3 months. No statistical differences were seen between the groups except for changes in mean difference of role limitation due to emotional problems, which was significantly (P=.04) improved in favour of the on-pump group. Depression scores remained unchanged within and between the two surgical groups. CONCLUSIONS: Both on-pump and off-pump patients improved in health-related quality of life scores after CABG surgery. No clinically relevant difference between the groups could be demonstrated.     

Impact of a history of diabetes mellitus on quality of life after coronary artery bypass grafting

Aim: To describe the improvement in various aspects of quality of life (QoL) after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), in relation to a previous history of diabetes mellitus. Patients: All patients from western Sweden who underwent CABG between 1988 and 1991 without simultaneous valve surgery. Methods: Patients were approached with three questionnaires: The Physical Activity Score, the Nottingham Health Profile and the Psychological General Well-being Index prior to surgery and 3 months, 1 and 2 years thereafter. Results: All three questionnaires already showed a significant improvement in QoL after 3 months, remaining at a similar level 1 and 2 years after the operation. In terms of Physical Activity Score improvement was of similar magnitude in diabetic and non-diabetic patients. In terms of the Psychological General Well-Being Index significant and similar improvements were found in diabetic and non-diabetic patients at each evaluation. In terms of the Nottingham Health Profile there was a significant improvement both in diabetic and non-diabetic patients 3 months, 1 and 2 years after the operation. However, improvement was more marked in diabetic than in non-diabetic patients at each evaluation. Conclusion: For 3 months, 1 and 2 years after CABG various aspects of QoL as estimated with three different instruments, improved significantly both in diabetic and in non-diabetic patients compared with the situation prior to the operation. However, the three instruments differed somewhat. Thus, whereas in the Physical Activity Score, diabetic patients tended to improve less markedly than non-diabetic patients, the opposite was found in the Nottingham Health Profile.     

Health-related quality of life following vertical banded gastroplasty

Background  Morbid obesity is associated with increased risks of morbidity and mortality as well as poor quality of life (QoL). Therefore, the goal of bariatric surgery should not only be reducing weight and treatment of comorbid conditions, but also improving QoL. Moreover, enhanced QoL may motivate patients to adhere to adequate health behavior in order to maintain the surgically established weight loss. Methods  We evaluated early postoperative health-related quality of life (HRQoL) over time. Preoperatively as well as 6, 12, and 24 months after vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG), 107 patients were psychologically assessed using a semistructured interview and the RAND 36-item Health Survey (RAND-36). Results  Over time, we found significant changes in weight: 2 years after surgery, excess weight loss (EWL) was 58.4%. HRQoL showed significant improvements over time, especially in the physical domains. Two years after surgery, 74% of patients were satisfied with the results of the operation and 94.1% would opt for surgery again. Conclusions  VBG not only leads to considerable weight loss, but also to significant improvements in HRQoL. However, some of the initially reported improvements lessened over time and not all patients appeared to profit in the same way.     

Benefit to quality of life after off-pump versus on-pump coronary bypass surgery

BACKGROUND: Whether the clinical outcome of off-pump coronary artery bypass graft (OPCABG) surgery is superior to on-pump coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery is still a matter of debate. However with the considerable reduction of mortality associated with CABG surgery in recent years, more subtle outcome indicators such as quality of life (QOL) become more important. The aim of this study was to compare midterm QOL after OPCABG with that after CABG procedures and with an age- and sex-matched standard population. METHODS: Quality of life was assessed using the Short-Form 36 Health Survey Questionnaire for 504 consecutive patients after CABG (n = 438) and OPCABG (n = 66) operated on between June 1999 and November 2000 at our institution. RESULTS: Except for single-vessel disease, which was more frequent in OPCABG compared with CABG procedures (13.6% versus 6.8%; p <0.01), the preoperative variables were similar. Median EuroSCORE (European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation) was 3.2 +/- 1.3 in the CABG group compared with 3.0 +/- 0.8 in the OPCABG group (p = not significant). After a mean follow-up of 10.8 +/- 0.5 months physical role function (73.5 +/- 38.3 versus 45.3 +/- 41.6; p <0.01) and emotional role function (75.3 +/- 40.3 versus 61.0 +/- 43.9; p <0.01) were significantly better in OPCABG than in CABG patients. Compared with a standard population, OPCABG patients were significantly impaired in emotional role function and CABG patients in physical and emotional role function. CONCLUSIONS: Midterm QOL after myocardial revascularization is fairly well preserved compared with an age- and sex-matched standard population and is superior after OPCABG compared with CABG. Whether this is only due to avoidance of cardiopulmonary bypass remains to be elucidated.     

Changes in health-related quality of life following coronary artery bypass graft surgery

Background. There are limited data to help clinicians identify patients likely to have an improvement in quality of life following CABG surgery. We evaluated the relationship between preoperative health status and changes in quality of life following CABG surgery.

Methods. We evaluated 1,744 patients enrolled in the VA Cooperative Processes, Structures, and Outcomes in Cardiac Surgery study who completed preoperative and 6-month postoperative Short Form-36 (SF-36) surveys. The primary outcome was change in the Mental Component Summary (MCS) and Physical Component Summary (PCS) scores from the SF-36.

Results. On average, physical and mental health status improved following the operation. Preoperative health status was the major determinant of change in quality of life following surgery, independent of anginal burden and other clinical characteristics. Patients with MCS scores less than 44 or PCS scores less than 38 were most likely to have an improvement in quality of life. Patients with higher preoperative scores were unlikely to have an improvement in quality of life.

Conclusions. Patients with preoperative health status deficits are likely to have an improvement in their quality of life following CABG surgery. Alternatively, patients with relatively good preoperative health status are unlikely to have a quality of life benefit from surgery and the operation should primarily be performed to improve survival.     

The effect of early cardiac rehabilitation on health-related quality of life among heart transplant recipients and patients with coronary artery bypass graft surgery

Purpose

To investigate the effect of an early postoperative outpatient cardiac rehabilitation program to health-related quality of life among heart transplantation recipients (HTR) and patients with coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery.

Methods

The study included 45 clinically stable HTR (age: 47 ± 14 years; 36 men, 9 women) and 34 patients with CABG (age: 57.2 ± 12.5 years; 27 men, 7 women). HTR started rehabilitation 70 ± 33 days after transplantation; patients with CABG started training 36 ± 18 days after surgery. Patients participated in a 12-week supervised exercise training program three times per week. Each training session comprised 10 minutes of warm-up, 25 to 30 minutes of cycling or treadmill walking, and 10 minutes of cooldown. The exercise intensity was set at 50% to 80% of peak oxygen uptake (V?O_2peak) according to the patient's condition. The health-related quality of life of subjects was evaluated by the Medical Outcomes Trust 36-item health survey (SF-36) at baseline and upon the completion of rehabilitation.

Results

At baseline, the HTR group showed lower V?O_2peak than the CABG group, but the health-related quality of life was similar between the two groups. After training, both groups exhibited an increase of 3.6 mL · kg⁻¹ · min⁻¹ in V?O_2peak and improvement of physical component in health-related quality of life. The HTR group showed a significant increase of SF-36 scores in physical functioning (59.7 ± 18.9 to 77.0 ± 14.0), physical role (21.1 ± 34.1 to 38.3 ± 37.9), bodily pain (57.4 ± 24.3 to 73.6 ± 21.5), social functioning (63.6 ± 23.4 to 72.8 ± 22.1), emotional role (59.2 ± 43.7 to 76.3 ± 37.4), and mental health (67.1 ± 17.9 to 73.4 ± 14.6). The CABG group only exhibited increased scores in physical functioning (60.0 ± 22.9 to 73.4 ± 18.0), physical role (19.1 ± 24.9 to 27.9 ± 38.3), bodily pain (57.1 ± 20.0 to 70.3 ± 16.1), and social functioning (54.0 ± 21.3 to 69.9 ± 21.1).

Conclusions

Early postoperative cardiac rehabilitation significantly improved physical capacity and quality of life among heart transplant recipients and patients with CABG. Additionally, HTR showed greater improvement in health-related quality of life than patients with CABG regardless of lower physical capacity.     

Self-assesed quality of life in patients who underwent surgery for asymptomatic meningiomas

The aim of our study was to assess the quality of life (QOL) of patients operated on for asymptomatic meningioma and to assess the correlation between QOL and operative complications. Of 21 surgically treated patients, 6 (28.6%) presented with persistent neurological impairments or events considered to be treatment-related. Seventeen patients participated in the QOL survey using MOS Short-Form 36-Item Health Survey (SF-36) for health-related QOL issues and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) for anxiety nd depression assessment. The mean scores for each of the 8 domains of SF-36 were comparable with these of a Japanese reference population. When we divided the patients into 2 groups according to the degree of headache, activity of daily living, or complications, the QOL of patients with persistent headache declined in the SF-36 domains related to physical function and vitality. Minor neurological impairments developed by 4 patients did not affect their QOL. In conclusion, surgery for asymptomatic meningioma has no negative impact on postoperative QOL if the surgical complications are minor. On the other hand, physical activities in some patients were hampered due to persistent headache. Besides the treatment-related morbidity and mortality rates, QOL issues should also be included in treatment indications for asymptomatic meningioma.     

Does surgical repair of pelvic prolapse improve patients' quality of life?

OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to evaluate the efficacy of surgical repair in patients with pelvic prolapse, and to assess the postoperative quality of life (QOL). METHODS: A total of 70 patients (mean age: 66.7 years) underwent transvaginal two-corner bladder neck suspension in combination with transvaginal hysterectomy (63 cases), and anterior with (49) or without (21) posterior colporrhaphy. The status of recurrence and complications were followed in all patients at a mean follow-up period of 32.0 months. Postoperative patients' quality of life (QOL) consisting of four items (sensation of vaginal bulging, urinary incontinence, difficulty to urinate, and health-related QOL) was assessed in 52 cases whose were followed at least two years (mean: 41.6 months, range: 24.3-69.1). RESULTS: Sixty-eight patients (97%) were recurrence-free. Nine of the 39 (23%) patients with difficulty to urinate before surgery had persistent symptoms postoperatively. Multivariate analysis revealed that cystometric abnormalities, voiding symptoms at seventh days after surgery, and weak detrusor contraction were independent prognostic factors for persistent voiding symptoms. As for the QOL, all items had significant improvement at 13 months after surgery as compared to baseline condition. A longitudinal study showed improvement of these symptoms sustained at least up to four years. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that surgical repair can achieve results with long-term durability as well as improving the QOL. In addition, assessment of the detrusor function may be needed for patients who complain difficulty to urinate in avoiding persistent such symptoms.     

Postoperative quality of life of patients treated for asymptomatic unruptured intracranial aneurysms

OBJECT: The aim of this study was to assess the quality of life (QOL) of patients who underwent surgery for asymptomatic unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs). METHODS: The authors assessed QOL in 149 patients who had undergone microsurgical clipping of asymptomatic UIAs. They surveyed these patients using universal methods such as the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) for health-related QOL and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale for anxiety and depression assessments. RESULTS: The patients' mean scores for each of the eight domains of SF-36 were comparable to those of a Japanese reference population. Analysis of data from the average-QOL and low-QOL subgroups showed that the low-QOL group contained a higher number of patients with preexisting heart diseases and restricted activities of daily living. Operative procedures and complications did not affect QOL. CONCLUSIONS: Because 86% of the patients who underwent surgery manifested a QOL similar to the reference population, the authors suggest that elective surgery for asymptomatic UIAs is a reasonable treatment, especially in patients who are troubled by the risk of rupture. Postoperative decreases in QOL are not invariably attributable to the operation or its associated complications, but may be correlated with other chronic disorders. To select the appropriate treatment for asymptomatic UIAs, neurosurgeons and patients need information on the expected postoperative QOL.     

Changes in coping strategies, social support, optimism and health-related quality of life following traumatic brain injury: a longitudinal study

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: To study longitudinal changes in psychological coping strategies, social support, life orientation and health-related quality of life in the late period after traumatic brain injury (TBI). SUBJECTS: Thirty-one patients with TBI who were first investigated on average 2.3 years after injury and were prospectively followed on average 5.7 years later. METHODS: Estonian versions of the COPE-D Test, the Brief Social Support Questionnaire, the Life Orientation Test and the RAND-36 questionnaire. RESULTS: During the late follow-up period health-related quality of life and resuming work did not improve significantly. Persons with TBI reported an increase in seeking social/emotional support (p<0.05), frequent use of avoidance-oriented styles and reduced use of task-oriented styles. This was accompanied by low social support and low satisfaction with support, both of which were associated with health-related quality of life and resuming work after TBI. Although the patients had become more optimistic (p<0.05), this did not correlate with their health status and social well-being. CONCLUSIONS: This prospective study revealed maladaptive changes in the profile of coping strategies and an increase in optimism. As social support, satisfaction with support and health-related quality of life did not improve, then rehabilitation, social and psychological support are continuously needed.     

Up to one third of individual cardiac patients have a decline in quality of life post-intervention

OBJECTIVE: To investigate clinically relevant intra-individual and mean changes in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) with the Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36) need to acknowledge that SF-36 is trademarked ie: SF-36(R) following cardiac intervention for Australian and Danish patients. DESIGN: Prospective observational study in tertiary cardiac centres in Townsville, Queensland, Australia and Copenhagen, Denmark. Two hundred coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) patients of two Townsville hospitals, and 47 CABG or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) patients of a Copenhagen hospital. The main outcome measures are eight SF-36 health subscales at baseline and six months post-intervention. RESULTS: Australian and Danish patients experienced similar HRQoL pre-intervention. By six months post-intervention, patients experienced a significant mean improvement in all subscales of the SF-36 survey (p < or = 0.05), although up to 27% of patients had a clinically significant decline in HRQoL from baseline. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that it is necessary to investigate intra-individual changes in HRQoL as well as group mean changes as they produce different conclusions. In addition, establishing clinically significant intra-individual change standards may assist researchers and clinicians in determining whether an individual may benefit from therapy or intervention.     

A pilot study of the assessment of the quality of life, functional results, and complications in patients with an ileal neobladder for invasive bladder cancer

OBJECTIVE: To assess the functional results, health-related quality of life (QOL) outcomes, and complications in patients with an ileal neobladder in comparison to those with cutaneous diversion (ileal conduit and cutaneostomy). METHODS: Between September 1992 and February 2003, we consecutively performed an ileal neobladder (the Studer method) in 30 patients and cutaneous diversion in 38 patients. In August 2004, questionnaires were mailed to 54 patients. The questionnaire included the validated health-related quality of life (QOL) questionnaire, SF-36 General Health Survey, and a urinary incontinence questionnaire. We also evaluated the functional results in patients with an ileal neobladder and the postoperative complications in patients with both urinary diversions. RESULTS: The data from 41 patients (21 ileal neobladder procedures and 20 cutaneous diversions) were available for the analysis. No differences in the overall QOL were observed between the two groups. Complete daytime and night-time urinary continence was achieved in the 21 patients (100%) and 13 patients (61.9%), respectively. The mean value of the maximum flow rate was 15 +/- 12 mL/min in the 21 neobladder patients. There were 19 early complications in 18 patients (60.0%) and seven late complications in six patients (20.0%) with an ileal neobladder. However, there were 15 early complications in 14 patients (36.8%) and eight late complications in six patients (15.8%) with cutaneous diversions. CONCLUSION: The findings regarding the health-related QOL and the frequency of complications in the neobladder group and those in the cutaneous diversion group were similar. However, the functional results and the status of urinary continence in the neobladder patients were satisfactory.     

Impact of self-perceived bothersomeness on health-related quality of life in women with overactive bladder symptoms

INTRODUCTION: The objective of this study was to examine the impact of self-perceived bothersomeness of overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms on the health-related quality of life (QOL). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 92 women with a mean age of 53.3 (range 23-79) years suffering from OAB were included in the study. The Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) and King's Health Questionnaire (KHQ) were used to assess the QOL. The patients were divided into two groups according to the bothersomeness degree of OAB: 'low' and 'moderate' to 'high'. RESULTS: The SF-36 and the KHQ scores of the patients were significantly different from those of the controls (p <0.05), except for three domains of the SF-36. No difference in the results of the frequency-volume charts was observed between the two patient groups. The scores of the SF-36 and the KHQ domains did not correlate with the data of the frequency-volume charts. Significant differences were found between the two patient groups for most domains of the SF-36 (p <0.05). Significant differences were also detected in most domains of the KHQ (p <0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Objective data are not a sensitive tool for measuring the QOL in women with OAB symptoms. Our findings suggest that patient-perceived bothersomeness significantly influences QOL and that strategies for assessing bothersomeness should be developed to evaluate the QOL in these patients.