Cardiac surgery is being performed more frequently in octogenarians with huge pressure on health care resources. Quality of Life (QoL) improvement should be the primary goal in this high-risk patients.

This study evaluates the feasibility of QoL assessment in octogenarians after cardiac surgery.

QoL was assessed by three self-administered psychometric tests: modified Seattle Angina Questionnaire, SF-36, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. QoL was evaluated after a mean time of 5.5 years after operation in 86 patients, and before and 6 months after surgery in 21 patients.

Retrospective evaluation of QoL showed absence of physical limitation in 50% of patients, treatment satisfaction in 80%, symptoms-free conditions in 62%, poor or absent disease perception in 94%, satisfactory wellbeing and enjoyment of life in 78%. QoL six-month variance analysis showed significant improvement in 4 of 5 modified SAQ domains (except of Treatment Satisfaction), 6 of 8 SF-36 domains (except of Emotional Role Limitation and Vitality), and in both depression and anxiety HADS subscales. However, test's self-administration failed, always necessitating physician and relatives’ help. Moreover, several questions showed to be unfit for this subset of patients.

Despite the emerged limitations using these tests, cardiac surgery seems to improve QoL in octogenarians with cardiac disease. After 5 years the prevalence of physical disability, cardiac symptoms and functional limitation due to cardiac symptoms, are comparable to the overall octogenarian population. QoL improvement appears more evident 6 months after the operation. New suitable tests are required for old patients.