Coronary artery bypass grafting: Long-term psychological and social outcomes

Long-term psychosocial outcomes were examined in 132 patients 7 to 22 years (M = 9.4 years) after coronary artery bypass grafting. The control group comprised 145 medically treated patients with coronary heart disease of 7 to 22 year duration (M = 9.2). Significantly more medically than surgically treated patients were scored in the clinically significant range for anxiety, and for depression on the hospital anxiety and depression scale. Significantly more medically than surgically treated patients reported a definite, considerable, or very severe impairment of family relationships. social activities, leisure activities, home management. and work on the social functioning scale. Work status did nut significantly differ between surgical and medical patients. This study shows previously unreported long-term favorable psychosocial outcomes in patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.