Predictors of chest pain after coronary artery bypass grafting

To identify preoperative biopsychosocial factors characterizing patients wh o will experience chest pain (self-reported) one year after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), 111 patients under 61 years of age were evaluated by questionnaire before CABG and 12 months postoperatively. A "Coronary Hea lth Profile" was evolved to study quality-of-life indicators, e.g. "Sense o f Coherence" (SOC), emotional state (loneliness, depressed mood, stress, an xiety) and social support as well as experience of chest pain, and the resu lts were correlated to biomedical data. Chest pain was experienced in the f irst postoperative year by 34% of the patients. These patients, who were yo unger than those without chest pain, generally had a body mass index >25, a s well as lower preoperative values for SOC, poorer emotional state and soc ial support. Independent predictors in a multivariate stepwise logistic reg ression analysis were moderate/weak SOC, ejection fraction <50%, and modera te/severe mood depression. We conclude that biomedical as well as psychosoc ial factors have a significant impact as predictors of chest pain (of any o rigin) after CABG, and must be considered in preoperative evaluation. The f indings indicate the need for biopsychosocial support/intervention before a s well as after CABG.