Dynamics of Psychoemotional Characteristics and Quality of Life in Patients with Coronary Heart Disease After Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

Abstract

Background. The study of psychoemotional characteristics and quality of life (QOL) in patients with CHD undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) at different stages of treatment is crucial for enriching information about the characteristics of the psychological responses to illness and for the comprehensive analysis of the psychological aspects of recovery after CABG. The study was carried out at the Almazov National Medical Research Centre (St. Petersburg, Russia). The study sample comprised 65 patients with CHD preparing for CABG. Methods. Asthenic State Scale, Integrative Anxiety Test, The Symptom Checklist-90-R (SCL-90-R), and 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36). Results show that in the early postoperative periood, asthenia tends to intensify. State anxiety and its components decrease during the rehabilitation period after CABG. Both before and after CABG, patients have increased rates of psychopathological symptoms. A week after CABG, depressive and somatization symptoms intensify. 3 months after CABG, psychopathological symptoms tend to decrease, however, many indicators remain above the norm. Conclusion. The analysis of the QOL dynamics revealed the influence of the surgery on all QOL components. Psychological interventions for patients with CHD undergoing the CABG are necessary at all stages of the treatment and rehabilitation process.