Socioeconomics and quality of life of Irish patients undergoing cardiac surgery Cork, Ireland

Aim: This article examines the social and demographic characteristics and quality of life (QoL) of a sample of patients undergoing cardiac surgery and rehabilitation in an Irish hospital. Background: Sociodemographic factors influence the risks of developing diseases as well as the outcomes of treatments. Risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) have been thoroughly researched and are clearly identifiable. Evidence also exists demonstrating that individuals from some sociodemographic groups have higher risks of developing CVD than others. Methods: A prospective study of 127 Irish preoperative cardiac surgical patients was carried out using a widely recognised quality of life self-report instrument (the SF-36) and a detailed demographics questionnaire. Results: QoL was found to relate to demographic variables including private health insurance cover. Conclusions: The results of this study provide a unique examination of the backgrounds of Irish cardiac patients allowing consideration of sociodemograph...