The influence of patient strength, aerobic capacity and body composition upon outcomes after coronary artery bypass grafting

Background: Physical activity, physical fitness and body habitus of patient s may be important predictors of outcomes after cardiac surgery. This study sought to quantify physical fitness and determine whether components of fi tness enhance the prediction of outcomes in a group of patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting. Methods: A group of 200 patients were eval uated prior to coronary artery bypass surgery. A Veterans Specific Activity Questionnaire (VSAQ) measured aerobic capacity. A grip dynamometer assesse d strength. Skin-fold thickness was used to calculate percent body fat and lean body mass index. Patients were divided into low risk (0-2.5%) and high risk (>2.5%) groups based on the STS National Cardiac Surgery Database pre diction of operative mortality. Results: Patients with both a high percent body fat and a low VSAQ were at higher risk for at least one serious compli cation (p<0.05) and a longer postoperative length of stay (p<0.05). Conclus ion: This study suggests: 1) An index of physical fitness can be obtained p reoperatively in cardiac surgical patients; 2) This information aids in the prediction operative risk.