[Quality of life following coronary surgery and balloon angioplasty; more chest pain and social inhibition following angioplasty].

OBJECTIVE

To determine the differences in quality of life between patients who had a coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) and patients who had a percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA).

DESIGN

Comparative and prospective study.

SETTING

Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

METHOD

91 patients with multi-vessel coronary disease who had been randomised to CABG (n = 37) or PTCA (n = 54), as participants in the CABRI study (Coronary angioplasty or bypass revascularisation investigation) completed several psychological questionnaires. Besides, the severity of angina pectoris after the procedure was estimated using the Canadian Cardiovascular Society score. In a subpopulation of 36 patients (CABG:14; PTCA:22) the quality of life just before the intervention was measured, also using psychological questionnaires.

RESULTS

A significant difference in angina pectoris was found between the two groups. The PTCA group experienced more chest pain (p < 0.01), at an average of 2.6 years after the intervention. The quality of life aspects did not differ between the two groups, except for 'social inhibition' (p < 0.05): the PTCA group experienced more problems and had less energy (p < 0.01). No significant differences between the PTCA and CABG groups were found regarding to the change in quality of life caused by the intervention.

CONCLUSION

The persistent angina pectoris and social inhibition among patients who have had a PTCA need further study.