• P S Myles, J O Hunt, H Fletcher, R Solly, D Woodward, and S Kelly.
• Department of Anaesthesia and Pain Management, Alfred Hospital, and Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. p.myles@alfred.org.au
• Anesthesiology. 2001 Oct 1;95(4):862-7.

BackgroundImproved quality of life (QoL) is a desirable outcome of cardiac surgery. The aim of the current study was to measure the association between quality of recovery 3 days after surgery and QoL measured 3 months later.MethodsAfter obtaining ethics committee approval and consent, 120 adult cardiac surgical patients were studied. A 40-item quality of recovery score (QoR-40) was used to measure postoperative health status on days 1-3 and 1 month after surgery. QoL was measured using the short-form health survey (SF-36) at 1 and 3 months after surgery. The effect size (delta mean/SD) was used to define responsiveness, a clinically important difference in health. Associations were measured using correlation and reliability coefficients.ResultsThere was a significant change in the mean QoR-40 for up to 1 month after surgery (P < 0.0005). QoL was improved at 3 months (P < 0.0005) but not 1 month (P = 0.29) after surgery. There was a moderate correlation between day-3 QoR-40 and 3-month SF-36 (r = 0.39; P < 0.0005). A poor-quality recovery in hospital predicted a poor QoL at 3 months (adjusted odds ratio, 4.20; 95% confidence interval, 1.41-12.5; P = 0.01).ConclusionsThe QoR-40 is a valid measure of quality of recovery after surgery and anesthesia. When compared with the SF-36, it is a better measure of early postoperative recovery. A poor-quality recovery on the days after surgery can predict a poor QoL at 3 months after surgery. This may allow earlier and more effective support strategies while patients are still in the hospital (counseling, home assistance, local doctor notification, cardiac rehabilitation).

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