Quality of Life for Patients After Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Surgery: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study.

Background Understanding the quality of life ( QoL) of patients following coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is crucial for optimizing postoperative management and long-term patient outcomes. This study aimed to assess QoL in post-CABG patients and identify the factors influencing their ability to perform daily activities. Methods This retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted at our cardiac surgery unit. Patients aged 18 years or older who underwent CABG and had completed at least six months of postoperative recovery were selected through convenience sampling from hospital records. Data were reviewed and followed up via phone interviews using a modified version of the SF-36 questionnaire. Results A total of 139 patients were evaluated (median age: 61 years; 79.1% male), predominantly Egyptian (98.6%) and married (82.7%). Most participants were nonsmokers (45.3%) or ex-smokers (40.3%), with common conditions including hypertension (68.3%), dyslipidemia (57.6%), and diabetes mellitus (47.5%). Self-assessed health status was rated as excellent or very good by 46% of patients. QoL, as assessed via the SF-36, showed median scores for physical functioning (40), general health (50), social functioning (77.5), and overall QoL (60). QoL was positively correlated with several health domains, especially physical functioning and role limitations (p < 0.001). Male patients had significantly higher physical functioning scores (p = 0.007), though overall QoL did not differ significantly by sex. Marital status, sleep duration, and hypertension were significant factors influencing QoL, with optimal outcomes linked to 6–8 hours of sleep. Smoking status and family history of cardiac disease were not significantly associated with QoL. Conclusion This study highlights important predictors of quality of life after CABG. Optimal sleep duration (6–8 hours), marital status, and being an ex-smoker were associated with better QoL outcomes, while hypertension negatively impacted QoL. In contrast, other factors such as active smoking and dyslipidemia were not significantly associated. These findings emphasize the importance of interventions targeting sleep hygiene, hypertension control, and social support. Further comparative studies are recommended to evaluate QoL in patients undergoing both CABG and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).