title: Stair climbing test predicts cardiopulmonary complications after lung resection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the capability of the stair climbing test to predict cardiopulmonary complications after lung resection for lung cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective cohort of candidates for lung resection. Spirometric assessment and the stair climbing test were performed the day before operation. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify predictors of postoperative complications.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tertiary referral center.
  
  
  METHODS
  A consecutive series of 160 candidates for lung resection with lung carcinoma from January 2000 through March 2001.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At univariate analysis, the patients with complications were significantly older (p = 0.02), had a significantly lower FEV(1) percentage (p = 0.007) and predicted postoperative FEV(1) percentage (p = 0.01), had a greater incidence of a concomitant cardiac disease (p = 0.02), climbed a lower altitude at the stair climbing test (p < 0.0001), and had a lower calculated maximum oxygen consumption (O(2)max) [p = 0.03] and predicted postoperative O(2)max (p = 0.006) compared to the patients without complications. At multivariate analysis, the altitude reached at the stair climbing test remained the only significant independent predictor of complications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The stair climbing test is a safe and economical exercise test, and it was the best predictor of cardiopulmonary complications after lung resection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, University of Ancona, Ancona, Italy. alexit_2000@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brunelli
authors.forename: Majed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Al Refai
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Monteverde
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Borri
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salati
authors.forename: Aroldo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fianchini
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000601:surgery*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000502:physiology; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D011013:Pneumonectomy; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012306:Risk
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen