Social support, depression, functional status, and gender differences in older adults undergoing first-time coronary artery bypass graft surgery

BackgroundOlder adults have more difficulty with coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery than younger adults, partly because of depression and social isolation. During hospitalization, older adult patients undergoing CABG name nurses as their primary source of social support.MethodsA secondary analysis was used to investigate the relationships among social support, depression, functional status, and postoperative length of stay. Included were 70 patients undergoing first-time CABG. Patients had a mean age of 72 years and were primarily white (94%) and male (66%). Complete data were collected on 63 participants.ResultsSocial support was not related to any other variable. Preoperative depression and low functional status persisted postoperatively. Female patients had greater depression and poorer functional status than male patients both preoperatively and postoperatively. No other gender differences were found.ConclusionDepression and functional status are amenable to intervention. The outcomes of older adult patients (especially female) undergoing CABG might improve if nurses preoperatively assess for and intervene to improve depression and functional status.