Prospective studies
| Reference study type (quality of study: USPSTFQR score) | Surgery: average age | Number in study (survivors, % assessed for QoL) | QoL tool | Length of follow-up | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Olsson et al16 Prospective (Fair quality) Stockholm, Sweden | AVR Mean 83±2 | 32 (25, 96%) | Self-designed questionnaire | 3 and 12 months | Physical ability improved, depression decreased, improvement in self-rated health |
| Deutsch et al17 Prospective (Conference abstract) Munchen, Germany | All cardiac surgery Median 82.5 (80–91.8) | 87 (Not specified) | SF-36 | 3 months | The SF-36 scores for physical functioning (41.8 vs 48.7, p=0.05), role-physical (25.8 vs 36.4, p=0.05), bodily-pain (51.9 vs 74.4, p=0.001) and vitality (41.2 vs 49.8, p=0.006) increased 3 months postoperatively. No significant differences found for general health (54.3 vs 56.6, p=0.38), mental health (67.9 vs 71.8, p=0.1) role-emotional (59.5 vs 60.5, p=0.9), social functioning (75.4 vs 73.6, p=0.63) scores |
| Ferrari et al18 Group 1: Retrospective Group 2: Prospective (Conference abstract) Modena, Italy | All cardiac surgery Not documented | Group 1: 192 Group 2: 21 (Not specified) | SF-36 HADS SAQ | Group 1: 5–7 years Group 2: not specified | Group 1: satisfaction with treatment in 80%, freedom from cardiac symptoms in 62% and overall well-being in 78% of cases. Group 2: improvement of QoL (SF-36 mean total score 57.1 vs 73.5, p=0.001), clinical conditions and anxiety-depressive symptoms (p=0.001 both for HADS-anxiety and HADS-depression) |
| Pontoni et al19 Group 1: Retrospective Group 2: Prospective (Conference abstract) Modena, Italy | All cardiac surgery Not documented | Group 1: 86 Group 2: 21 (Not specified) | SF-36 HADS SAQ | Group 1: Mean 5.5 years Group 2: 6 months | Group 1: Retrospective analysis: absence of physical limitation in 50% of patients, treatment satisfaction in 80%, satisfactory well-being and enjoyment of life in 78% Group 2: QoL showed significant improvement in 4 of 5 modified SAQ domains (except of treatment satisfaction), 6 of 8 SF-36 domains (except of Emotional Role Limitation and Vitality) and in depression and anxiety HADS subscales |
| Oldroyd et al20 Prospective (Conference abstract) Victoria, Australia | All cardiac surgery Mean 83.2±2.5 | 63 (Not specified) | SF-36 | 3 months | 51(81%) felt that cardiac surgery had been worthwhile, despite no significant change in SF-36 scores |
| Lam et al21 Prospective (Poor quality) Ontario, Canada | AVR±CABG Mean 83.7±3.4 (80–96) | 58 (20, 35%) | SF-36 | 6 months | Better scores for bodily pain, vitality, social functioning and mental health than patients <80. Better scores for bodily pain, general health, vitality, social functioning and mental health than the general population >75 |
| Wilson et al22 Prospective (Fair quality) New York, USA | CABG Mean 82 (80–88) | 73 (71, 97%) | Karnofsky performance score | Up to 5 years | Karnofsky performance score improved from a mean 67 to 78 (p<0.05), median of 50–80. 83% independent of ADLs. 97% living at home |
| Khan et al23 Prospective (Fair quality) San Francisco, USA | Valve surgery±CABG Mean 83.5 (80–89) | 61 (54, 100%) | Karnofsky performance score | 1 and 3 months | Median Karnofsky score increased from 30% to 80% 1 month post-operatively, sustained at 3-month follow-up |
| Glower et al24 Prospective (Fair quality) North Carolina, USA | CABG Mean 81±2 (80–93) | 86 (74, 100%) | Karnofsky performance score | QoL data at discharge Mean 17±17 months | Median Karnofsky score improved from 20% to 70% (p=0.0001) Mean Karnofsky score improved from 27±15 preoperatively to 60±27% |
ADL, activities of daily living; AVR, aortic valve replacement; CABG, coronory artery bypass graft; HADS, Hospital anxiety and depression scale; QoL, quality of life; SAQ, Seattle Angina Questionnaire; SF-36, Short Form 36.