Quality of life in elderly patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery: The role of inflammation, nutrition and functional status

Objective: This prospective descriptive correlational study aimed to examine inflammation, changes in functional status, nutritional status, and quality of life in older adults undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. Material and Methods: The study sample consisted of 120 conscious and voluntary patients aged 65 years and older who underwent on-pump CABG surgery between February 2017 and January 2018 at the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery of a Ege University Medical Faculty Hospital. Data were collected at hospital admission and at the eighth postoperative week through face-to-face interviews. Data collection included sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, inflammatory markers, functional status, nutritional status, and quality of life. Data were analyzed using SPSS for Windows, version 23.0. Results: At the eighth postoperative week, significant declines were observed in functional status, nutritional status, and physical quality of life compared with the preoperative period (p<0.05). Significant differences were also found in mental status scores, inflammatory markers, five times sit-to-stand test results, timed up and go test scores, handgrip strength, Katz index of activities of daily living scores, Lawton-Brody instrumental activities of daily living scores, anthropometric measurements, and mini nutritional assessment scores (p<0.05). Age was not significantly associated with functional status, nutritional status, or quality of life. Exploratory, unadjusted correlation analyses identified several low associations among inflammatory markers, functional status, nutritional status, and the physical and mental components of quality of life; none met the relevant Bonferroni-adjusted thresholds. Conclusion: During the first eight weeks after CABG, older individuals in this cohort showed multidimensional postoperative changes, particularly in functional capacity, nutritional status, inflammatory profile, and quality of life. Because the study did not include a comparator group, these temporal changes should not be interpreted as effects attributable specifically to CABG. The findings indicate a need for multidisciplinary assessment and support for functional recovery, nutritional status, and overall well-being.