Social support and change in health-related quality of life 6 months after coronary artery bypass grafting.

Objective: We determined whether perceived social support predicted change in health-related quality of life, operationalized as change in mental health and physical functioning, 6 months after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

Methods: A prospective cohort of 1164 patients undergoing first CABG was interviewed prior to hospital discharge and 6 months later. Perceived instrumental and emotional support were assessed predischarge. Change in mental health and physical functioning was calculated as the difference between 6-month and predischarge SF-36 subscale scores. Stepwise linear regression analyses controlling for prior health-related quality of life, demographics, and clinical presentation were conducted.

Results: A total of 1072 (1072/1164=92%) participants completed the 6-month interview; mean age 65.7 (+/-11.1) years. Frequent instrumental support predicted positive change in mental health (beta=3.27, P=.02); change scores were higher when participants had low pre-CABG mental health. Neither social support variable predicted change in physical functioning.

Conclusions: Assessing perceived instrumental support may help clinicians predict post-CABG mental health. More research regarding this relationship is needed before recommending intervention efforts.