Limitation of physical activity, dyspnea and chest pain before and two years after coronary artery bypass grafting in relation to sex

Aim: To describe the limitation of physical activity and its causes, and symptoms of dyspnea and chest pain prior to and during two years after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in relation to sex. Methods: All patients from western Sweden who underwent CABG between June 1988 and June 1991 were approached with a questionnaire prior to, three months and two years after CABG evaluating the issues raised above. Results: In all, 2121 patients were operated on, of which 81% were males. Physical activity was significantly improved and symptoms of chest pain and dyspnea were significantly reduced in both men and women after CABG. The improvement was significantly greater in males than in females even after adjustment for preoperative differences between the sexes. Conclusion: There was an improvement for both men and women in terms of limitations for physical activity and cardiovascular symptoms three months and two years after CABG as compared with prior to the operation. Female patients suffered from significantly more symptoms of chest pain and dyspnea and limitations in physical activity after CABG than men, also when adjustment was made for preoperative differences between the sexes.