Quality of life can both influence and be an outcome of general health perceptions after heart surgery
2007

Quality of Life and Health Perceptions After Heart Surgery

Sample size: 108 publication 10 minutes Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Mathisen Lars, Andersen Marit H, Veenstra Marijke, Wahl Astrid K, Hanestad Berit R, Fosse Erik

Primary Institution: The Interventional Centre, Faculty Division Rikshospitalet, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo

Hypothesis

Is there a reciprocal relationship between patients' assessment of quality of life and their appraisal of health after heart surgery?

Conclusion

Heart surgery affects overall quality of life in a way that both influences and is influenced by health perceptions.

Supporting Evidence

  • Acceptable model fit was obtained for reciprocal causation between general health perceptions and overall quality of life.
  • Regression coefficients changed over different phases of rehabilitation.
  • One third of patients reported no change or decline in health after surgery.

Takeaway

After heart surgery, how people feel about their health can change how they see their quality of life, and vice versa.

Methodology

Path analysis using longitudinal data from a study of coronary artery bypass surgery.

Potential Biases

Potential response shifts from changing values or beliefs of respondents may affect results.

Limitations

Sample size was insufficient for modeling latent variables and may not fully capture the complexity of the relationships.

Participant Demographics

Participants were 81% men, aged 47 to 79 years, with stable angina pectoris.

Statistical Information

P-Value

p<0.05

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1186/1477-7525-5-27

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