Health-Related Quality of Life as a Predictor of Mortality Following Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery

The Physical Component Summary score of the Short-Form 36 (SF-36) questionnaire may predict which patients who have received coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery might die. SF-36 is a questionnaire that assesses physical functioning, psychological functioning, social functioning, role functioning, and general health perceptions to determine a person's health-related quality of life. Researchers gave the SF-36 to 2,480 people who had CABG surgery. Five percent of the patients died within six months of surgery and a low Physical Component Summary score was associated with an increased risk of dying.