Exercise, quality of life, and symptoms in men and women five to six years after coronary artery bypass graft surgery

Background: Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery is commonly performed to treat symptoms of heart disease and improve function and quality of life (QL). Health-related behavior including exercise after surgery may promote optimal recovery; however, relationships among exercise behavior, functional status, symptoms, and QL 5 to 6 years after CABG have not been examined in a representative patient sample. Methods: Telephone interviews and postal surveys were used to examine long-term (5-6 year) recovery after CABG of 163 men and women of the Minnesota participants enrolled in the Post-CABG Biobehavioral Study. Results: Regular exercise and better functional status were related to reports of less shortness of breath and fatigue and better subjective health perception, satisfaction, and QL. Recommendations: Positive relationships between regular exercise and more favorable QL and symptom relief 5 to 6 years after CABG in this observational cohort study warrant prospective study trials to determine the potential long-term benefits of regular exercise after CABG.