This was a study of the pre-operative factors that influence quality of life (QoL) in patients with coronary artery disease and the relationship between pre-operative QoL and early outcome after coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG). Using the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire, 283 patients who underwent isolated coronary artery bypass surgery were interviewed and scores were obtained for the physical, psychological, social and environmental components. The study found that the independent physical component predictors for higher QoL included male gender and diabetes mellitus, while the independent psychological component predictors were male gender and high ejection fraction. Males, diabetics and patients with low education levels had higher social well-being than others. Among the postoperative complications, only respiratory failure was found to have a relationship with physical and psychological components. Women with coronary artery disease who were candidates for CABG had lower scores than the men in respect of all components of QoL. Furthermore, a lower pre-operative psychological score in patients undergoing CABG can influence postoperative complications, especially respiratory failure.