Health-related quality of life (HRQL) is the discrepancy between the actual and desired functioning for a given patient, and is a fundamental component of patient-centered healthcare. HRQL assessment regarding coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery is an active area of investigation, since HRQL improvement is an increasingly important indication for the procedure. In this paper, we review the current literature on HRQL and CABG surgery, including changes in HRQL following CABG, preoperative predictors of HRQL after CABG surgery, HRQL as a predictor of post-CABG mortality and comparisons of CABG with other revascularization and treatment strategies. We will also offer our view on the current state and future directions of HRQL assessment and use.