Quality of life and functional capacity in patients after cardiac surgery intensive care unit

Abstract

Coronary heart disease and aortic stenosis are prevalent cardiovascular diseases worldwide, leading to morbidity and mortality. Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) have therapeutic benefits, including improved postoperative quality of life (QoL) and enhanced patient functional capacity which are key indicators of cardiac surgery outcome. In this article, we review the latest studies of QoL outcomes and functional capacity in patients who underwent cardiac surgery. Many standardized instruments are used to evaluate QoL and functional conditions. Preoperative health status, age, length of intensive care unit stay, operative risk, type of procedure, and other pre-, intra-, and postoperative factors affect postoperative QoL. Elderly patients experience impaired physical status soon after cardiac surgery, but it improves in the following period. CABG and SAVR are associated with increases of physical and mental health and functional capacity in the immediate postoperative and the long long-term. Cardiac rehabilitation improves patient functional capacity, QoL, and frailty following cardiac surgery.

Keywords: Quality of life; Health-related quality of life; Functional capacity; Cardiac rehabilitation; Cardiac surgery; Coronary artery bypass grafting; Heart valve surgery; Heart valve replacement

Core Tip: Health-related quality of life (QoL) and functional capacity are the main indicators of patient outcome after cardiac surgery. Preoperative health condition, age, length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay, operative risk, type of procedure, perioperative complications and comorbidities are the primary determinants of QoL after ICU discharge. Following heart surgery, the physical status of elderly patients is lower than that of younger patients but improves over time. The results of studies of patient health status and functional ability after cardiac surgery reveal significant short- and long-term improvement of QoL and functional capacity. Cardiac rehabilitation has a central role in the recovery of function.