Assessment of the Quality of Life of Patients Following Cardiac Surgery

Aim. To assess the quality of life of patients followingcardiac surgery and to analyze differences inquality of life based on gender, age, diagnosis, andthe associated comorbidities.Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted atthe Clinical Hospital Center Osijek, Clinic for Surgery,Department of Cardiac and Thoracic Surgery, duringMarch, April, and May of 2024. The study includeda total of 41 respondents who underwent a cardiacsurgery more than six months prior. The SF-36 healthquestionnaire was used.Results. The study included 41 respondents, 27(66%) males and 14 (34%) females. The examinationof disease characteristics showed that 59% ofrespondents took medication for hypertension, while34% of respondents took medication for diabetes.There were no significant differences in the qualityof life of between respondents with hypertensionand diabetes. The respondents who underwent combinedsurgery had significantly poorer physical andsocial functioning, and experienced more pain comparedto those who had mitral valve surgery.Conclusion. The quality of life of respondents followingcardiac surgery is the lowest in the subscaleof physical limitations, with no significant differencebased on gender. The respondents in the older agegroup had lower physical functioning, vitality, andenergy, and they reported a higher level of pain comparedto younger participants.