Quality of life and functional capacity in patients after cardiac surgery intensive care unit

Coronary heart disease and aortic stenosis are prevalent cardiovascular diseases worldwide, leading to morbidity and mortality. Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) have therapeutic benefits, including improved postoperative quality of life (QoL) and enhanced patient functional capacity which are key indicators of cardiac surgery outcome. In this article, we review the latest studies of QoL outcomes and functional capacity in patients who underwent cardiac surgery. Many standardized instruments are used to evaluate QoL and functional conditions. Preoperative health status, age, length of intensive care unit stay, operative risk, type of procedure, and other pre-, intra-, and postoperative factors affect postoperative QoL. Elderly patients experience impaired physical status soon after cardiac surgery, but it improves in the following period. CABG and SAVR are associated with increases of physical and mental health and functional capacity in the immediate postoperative and the long long-term. Cardiac rehabilitation improves patient functional capacity, QoL, and frailty following cardiac surgery.