Marital Status and Postoperative Functional Recovery

Using University of Michigan Health and Retirement Study data, the authors evaluated marital status at the time of cardiac surgery and subsequent survival or deterioration in the ability to perform activities of daily living (ADLs) independently.   At follow-up, those who were married had a 19.4% incidence of death or new disability, which was similar to outcomes for never married individuals.   In contrast, those who were divorced, separated, or widowed had a 32% incidence of adverse outcomes.