Quality of life one year post myocardial revascularization and aortic valve replacement in patients aged 70 year or older

AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate changes of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) at one year post myocardial revascularization (CABG) and post aortic valve replacement (AVR) in patients aged 70 years or older. METHODS: Of 102 CABG patients and 69 AVR patients preoperative and follow-up data on QOL, were completed. For assessing HRQoL, the EuroQol instrument (EQ) was used. The EQ-5D index score was calculated, based on separate scores of 5 health domains, to express the global health status of the patient. The EQ visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to describe patients' subjective HRQoL. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: At one year postoperative, the EQ-5D index of the CABG group shows a significant increase (P=0.038), while that of the AVR group does not (P=0.26). The EQ-VAS registration, however, shows a significant increase for both the CABG group (P=0.003) and the AVR group (P=0.021). Considering the 5 domains of the registered HRQOL, in the AVR group only the calculated mean of the item "pain and discomfort" shows a significantly better score postoperatively (P=0.006). In the CABG group, mobility (P=0.016), pain and discomfort (P=0.15) and anxiety (P=0.036) get significantly better scores postoperatively. In conclusion, in elderly patients HRQOL strongly increases after CABG and AVR. However the improvement of functional and social quality of life is less far-going in patients undergoing AVR than in CABG patients