Assessment of Type D Personality, Anxiety, Depression, and Quality of Life in Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Graft – A Prospective, Hospital-Based Study

A BSTRACT Background: Cardiac patients are more likely than the general population to have high levels of anxiety and depression in about two-thirds of patients early after surgical intervention, and in many cases, the symptoms can last for several months or even years. Several studies address the issue using various tools, but very few studies have been done on the Indian population. Country-specific studies on the prevalence are necessary for proper and more accurate evaluation of psychiatric disorders in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG). Aim: To assess the prevalence of type D personality in patients awaiting CABG and the effect of CABG on depression, anxiety, and quality of life. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital and research center attached to a medical college from April 2018 to March 2020. One hundred six cardiac patients diagnosed with CAD and posted for CABG were included in the study with their informed consent. These patients were interviewed for sociodemographic profiles and tested for their type D personality, quality of life, anxiety, and depression. On the first three postoperative days, they were assessed with the Delirium Observation Scale for delirium assessment. On the seventh postoperative day, patients were evaluated with quality of life, anxiety, and depression. Results: In the study, we found a high prevalence of psychological distress in patients before undergoing CABG. The severity of depression and anxiety was reduced after CABG. Type D personality was seen in 25.81% of the patients. Delirium was observed in 59.4%, 69.1%, and 33.0% of the patients on the first three days after surgery. There was a significant improvement in the quality of life after CABG. Conclusion: There is a high prevalence of anxiety and depression in patients undergoing CABG. Delirium is fairly common immediately after the surgery. There was a significant reduction of anxiety and depressive symptoms postoperatively in patients who underwent a successful CABG. Significant improvement in the quality of life was observed in the study population after the surgery. Type D personality was seen in 25.81% of the patients undergoing CABG.