Long-term health-related quality of life and survival after cardiac surgery: A prospective study.

OBJECTIVES: Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is an important end point after cardiac surgery, particularly in patients of older age. However, prospective long-term studies describing the trajectory of HRQOL after cardiac surgery are still scarce. Therefore, the aim was to assess survival, functional status, and trajectory of HRQOL 10 years after cardiac surgery.

METHODS: In a prospective population-based study, 534 patients (23% aged 75 years or older, 67% male) were consecutively included before surgery. Functional status was measured according to self-assigned New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification. HRQOL was measured using the Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36). Questionnaires were given to the patients at baseline and sent by post at 6 and 12 months, and 5 and 10 years after surgery.

RESULTS: Three hundred fifty-two patients were eligible after 10 years, 274 responded (77.8%). Total survival at 10 years was 67.8%. Patients aged 75 years or older at surgery had lower survival rates than younger patients (44.6% vs 74.6%, P < .001). Seven of 8 SF-36 subscales were improved at 10 years compared with baseline. Older patients improved less than younger patients and linear mixed models showed that older patients had significantly worse trajectories on 3 of 8 SF-36 subscales. NYHA classification improved from baseline to 10 years also among older patients, with 59% in NYHA class III/IV at baseline compared with 30.3% after 10 years (P < .013).

CONCLUSIONS: HRQOL and function improved from before to 10 years after cardiac surgery, also for older patients. These long-term results are of major importance when discussing the use of health care resources and patient-centered clinical decision-making.