Quality of Life after Open-heart Surgery in Patients over 75 Years Old

Abstract

In a postal study we used the Nottingham Health Profile questionnaire to assess the quality of life of elderly survivors of open-heart surgery. From January 1984 to October 1993, 146 patients over 75 years of age underwent open-heart surgery in the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery at Beasançon (France). Eleven patients (7. 5%) died in the immediate post-operative course. Patients' mean follow-up was 3.4 +/- 2.4 years. Fourteen patients died during follow-up. One hundred and four completed Nottingham Health Profile questionnaires were returned. Five per cent of the patients lived in an old people's home. Six per cent of the patients were unable to walk at all. One patient out of five felt isolated. Fifteen per cent of the patients were in constant pain. Half of the patients took sleeping pills. Conversely, 87% of the patients felt an improvement after surgery. Sixty-two per cent continued to drive. Ninety-seven patients (92%) did at least one of the following three activities: watched television, listened to the radio, read books or magazines. Fifty-eight patients (56%) walked on a regular basis. The different types of pathology, of surgical procedures and whether or not a pacemaker was implanted during the post-operative course were not reflected in the quality of life (QOL) scores. After cardiac surgery, most of the patients were physically autonomous and related to their exterior world.

Health-related quality of life in patients with coronary artery disease after coronary revascularization

“…CABG for elderly is characterized by an increase in comparative mortality, morbidity andnumerous perioperative complications [5]. Despite this negative impact on the immediate postoperative period, research findings suggest that older patients also experience an improvement in their symptoms and fewer cardiac events in long-term post CABG surgery compared with patients who undergo drug therapy [6].…”

Long-Term Quality of Life after Cardiac and Thoracic Aortic Surgery for Very Elderly Patients 85 Years or Older

“…17) In a study that used the Nottingham Health Profile, although conditions improved in 87% of patients postoperatively, physical activity and mental response measurements were significantly lower in patients 80 years or older than in those younger than 80 years. 18) Mental health status scores were higher than those of general elderly people, but physical health status scores were comparable. 3) Surgery improved lifestyle and decreased the risk of left heart failure.…”

“…Thus, postsurgical quality of life (QOL) and activities of daily living (ADL) have received increased attention in recent years. [15][16][17][18][19] For patients at extremely high risk in whom aortic valve replacement (AVR) is difficult to perform, minimally invasive trans-catheter aortic valve implantation is now available, and treatment strategies have been carefully evaluated and selected.…”

Aspartame Pharmacokinetics: The Effect of Ageing

“…Aspartame Pharmacokinetics: The Effect of Ageing SIR-I read with interest the recent paper by Puthrasingam et al [1] showing that there is little difference in aspartame pharmacokinetics between young and old volunteers. Knowledge of all aspects of the pharmacology of aspartame is likely to become increasingly important as aspartame consumption continues to rise across the age range [2].…”