Research Article
Ellen van der Straaten and
Abstract
Background: The purpose of this study is to outline whether patients, undergoing elective myocardial revascularization nowadays have a better or worse preoperative Quality of Life (QoL) than years ago. Methods: The EuroQol instrument, EQ-5D and EQ-VAS is used for assessing QoL. Preoperative QoL data of 3175 patients undergoing elective isolated coronary bypass operations, January 2002–December 2013 were analyzed. The total group was divided into three time cohorts. Group A (879 patients) operated between January 2002 and December 2005, group B (944 patients) operated between January 2006 and December 2009, and group C (1352 patients) operated between January 2010 and December 2013 (n=803). Results: There is no statistical significant difference among the three groups for the registered EQ-5D index. The registered EQ-VAS index is significantly lower for group A versus B and C (p=0.001). The domains of the EQ-5D, ‘mobility’, ‘usual activities’ and ‘pain/discomfort’ show a statistically significant difference over time with an increased percentage of patients with no problems in these domains. However, in contrast with these domains, the domain anxiety/depression, shows, a statistical significant increase of the percentage patients with problems. Conclusion: Patients nowadays are not at a worse QoL than years ago. Nevertheless, the percentage of patients with anxiety and problems of depression increased the last years.