Gender analysis after elective open heart surgery: a two-year comparative study of quality of life.

BACKGROUND

The aim of this prospective study, based on the iterative completion of the 36-item short form health survey questionnaire (SF36) after open heart surgery, was twofold: to evaluate the changes in quality of life (QOL) scores (over time and by gender, and also in comparison with scores from a normal population) and to identify possible gender differences in two-year cardiac functional status.

METHODS

From July 2000 to July 2002, 590 elective patients were included in this study. Baseline and follow-up QOL surveys were obtained for 439 patients (307 males and 132 females). The QOL scores were compared by gender, by analysis of variance, and by the Student t test. Factors influencing two-year cardiac functional status were determined by logistic regression.

RESULTS

The comparison of baseline and follow-up scores showed a significant improvement (a sharp increase between baseline and year one, then stabilization) in all dimensions of the SF36, two years after surgery in all patients. However, QOL was significantly lower in women than in men in all but two dimensions; at baseline and during follow-up. When compared with the normal population, men and women over 75 had a similar QOL. The best independent predictive factor of two-year cardiac functional status in women was the physical component summary score and in men, the mental component summary score.

CONCLUSIONS

The benefit of open heart surgery at two-year follow-up is equivalent in both genders in terms of QOL, although women had lower baseline QOL scores.