Background: The results of “Left ventricular dysfunction 36 questionnaire” (LVD-36) which consists of 36 questions for the assessment of the quality of life in operated patients with coronary artery disease and chronic left ventricular systolic dysfunction, were compared with the results of cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET).

Methods: A total of 36 patients (27 males, 9 females, mean age 59±6 years; range 44-69) with ejection fraction (EF) of ≤%40 were included in this study. Breath by breath CPET was performed to all subjects. Simultaneously they were required to answer; LVD-36 test as “true” or “false”. Total number of questions that were answered as “true” was determined and the relationship between these and CPET was assessed.

Results: There was an inverse correlation with peak VO₂ (ml/min/kg) values and the number of questions answered as “true”. As the functional capacity of the patients decreased the number of questions they answered as “true” increased. (r=-0.402; p=0.002). There was no statistically significant correlation between the number of questions answered as “true” and ejection fractions of the patients (r=-0.132; p=0.48).

Conclusion: “LVD-36” is a simple, useful, easily applicable and repeatable test for the evaluation of the beneficial effects of surgery, follow-up and life quality assessment of patients with coronary artery bypass grafting and chronic left ventricular systolic dysfunction.

Keywords : Coronary artery bypass; quality of life; questionnaires; left ventricular dysfunction