Background Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is important in determining surgical success, particularly from the patients’ perspective. Aims To identify predictors for HRQoL outcome after cardiac surgery in order to identify potentially modifiable factors where interventions to improve patient outcomes could be targeted. Methods Electronic databases (including MEDLINE, CINAHL, Embase) were searched between January 2001 and December 2020 for studies determining predictors of HRQoL (using a recognised and validated tool) in adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Data extraction and quality assessments were undertaken and data was summarised using descriptive statistics and narrative synthesis, as appropriate. Results Overall, 3924 papers were screened with 41 papers included in the review. Considerable methodological heterogeneity between studies was observed. Most were single-centre (75.6%) prospective observational studies (73.2%) conducted in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) (n = 51.2%) using a version of the SF-36 (n = 63.4%). Overall, 103 independent predictors (62 pre-operative, five intra-operative and 36 post-operative) were identified, where 34 (33.0%) were reported in more than one study. Potential pre-operative modifiable predictors include alcohol use, BMI/weight, depression, pre-operative quality of life and smoking while in the post-operative period pain and strategies to reduce post-operative complications and intensive care and hospital length of stay are potential therapeutic targets. Conclusion Despite a lack of consistency across studies, several potentially modifiable predictors were identified that could be targeted in interventions to improve patient or treatment outcomes. This may contribute to delivering more person-centred care involving shared decision-making to improve patient HRQoL after cardiac surgery.

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This care study focuses on the initial acute phase of care for a patient with acutely decompensated heart failure. Heart failure is a syndrome characterised by clinical signs, such as pulmonary oedema, and symptoms, such as dyspnoea. Acute heart failure develops rapidly and requires urgent medical attention, unlike the slower insidious onset of chronic heart failure. Acute heart failure can be either new or acute decompensation of chronic heart failure. The patient presented with cardiogenic pulmonary oedema because of acute decompensation of his chronic heart failure. He agreed to medical management, which included continuous positive airway pressure, intra-arterial cannulation and a furosemide infusion. This treatment proved largely effective, but it may have been better if his furosemide infusion had been stopped sooner. The implications for practice are explored in this care study.