Comparison of functional status after coronary artery bypass grafting in patients with and without diabetes mellitus.

Although previous studies have shown increased risk of morbidity and mortality in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) who undergo coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), data are conflicting on whether the gains in physical function and mental health after CABG achieved by patients with DM are similar to, or less than, those achieved by patients without DM. We compared the gains in physical function and mental health at 6 months after CABG surgery between 696 consecutive patients with DM and 376 without DM who underwent their first CABG from February 1999 to February 2001. Physical function and mental health were measured using the Short Form 36-item Health Survey. From the baseline and follow-up Short Form 36-item Health Survey data, the physical and mental component scales were derived. At 6 months, the patients with and without DM had significant improvement in physical function and mental health, but those without DM had improved significantly more than those with DM with respect to physical functioning. After adjusting for baseline characteristics, a lower proportion of patients with DM had experienced improvement (an increase of > or = 5 points) in the physical component scale score compared with those without DM (45.0% vs 58.0.%, RR = 0.78, p = 0.002). Moreover, a higher proportion of patients with DM experienced a decrease in the physical component scale score compared with those without DM (14.9% vs 7.8%, RR = 1.91, p = 0.006). In contrast, no significant differences were found in the mental component scale score changes by DM status. In conclusion, CABG is associated with lower gains in physical function in those with DM than in those without DM. Special attention should be paid to the physical function of patients with DM after CABG, and any barriers to functional recovery in this group should be promptly identified and addressed.