Psychological and Physical Health Improvements After Coronary Bypass: A Longitudinal Study in Cardiovascular Rehabilitation

Background: Patients who undergo coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery often experience both physical and psychological challenges in the post-acute phase and thus follow an integrated rehabilitation program. Objective: This study aimed to examine changes in anxiety, depression, physical health, and mental health from admission to discharge and during a follow-up period up to 6 months after discharge. Methods: This study investigated longitudinal trends in the psychological and physical health of 608 patients (aged 65.75 ± 9.03 years, 80% male) undergoing a multidisciplinary rehabilitation program following CABG surgery. Repeated measures linear mixed models were used. Results: Significant reductions in depression (b = −7.30, p < 0.001) and anxiety (b = −2.22, p < 0.001) from admission to discharge were predicted by factors such as age (dep: b = 0.08, p < 0.001), male sex (dep: b = −1.15, p < 0.001), psychological symptoms (depression predicted by anxiety: b = 0.24, p < 0.001; anxiety predicted by depression: b = 1.25, p < 0.001), and the absence of preexisting stress (dep: b = 0.68, p < 0.001; anx: b = 1.68, p < 0.018). During the follow-up period from 45 days to 6 months postdischarge, physical health significantly improved (b = 3.77, p < 0.001), as predicted by age (b = −0.14, p < 0.001), male sex (b = 3.22, p < 0.001), mental health (b = 0.14, p < 0.001), and ejection fraction >35% (b = 3.56, p < 0.05). Discussion: These findings highlight the importance of considering both physical and psychological factors when designing rehabilitation programs for postacute CABG patients.