OBJECTIVE To identify determinants of an inferior quality of life (QoL) five years after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

SETTING University hospital.

PARTICIPANTS Patients from western Sweden who underwent CABG between 1988 and 1991.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Questionnaires for evaluating QoL before CABG and five years after operation. Three different instruments were used: the Nottingham health profile (NHP), the psychological general wellbeing index (PGWI), and the physical activity score (PAS).

RESULTS 2121 patients underwent CABG, of whom 310 died during five years’ follow up. Information on QoL after five years was available in 1431 survivors (79%). There were three independent predictors for an inferior QoL with all three instruments: female sex, a history of diabetes mellitus, and a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Multivariate analysis showed that a poor preoperative QoL was a strong independent predictor for an impaired QoL five years after CABG. An impaired QoL was also predicted by previous disease.

CONCLUSIONS Female sex, an impaired QoL before surgery, and other diseases such as diabetes mellitus are independent predictors for an impaired QoL after CABG in survivors five years after operation.