Recovery of self-reported functional capacity after coronary artery bypass surgery.
OBJECTIVE
This study was conducted to determine the effects of age, gender, comorbid conditions, and exercise on the recovery of self-reported functional capacity after coronary artery surgery, and to identify predictors of 1-year functional capacity.


METHODS
One hundred ninety-eight patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery.


RESULTS
Self-reported functional capacity was evaluated before surgery, and 3 months and 1 year postoperatively using the Veterans Specific Activity Questionnaire (VSAQ). Patients were classified into groups based on age, gender, comorbid conditions, and postoperative exercise. Repeated-measures analysis of variance was used to determine if groups differed with respect to functional capacity recovery and multiple linear regression was used to identify predictors of 1-year VSAQ score. A significant time by age interaction was found (p = 0.0001), with a more protracted recovery for older patients. There were significant group effects for gender (p = 0.0001), and presence of comorbid conditions (p = 0.0009); however, there were no time/group interactions for these variables. A significant group effect was found for postoperative exercise (p = 0.0001), with a trend toward group/time interaction (p = 0.096). Predictors of 1-year functional capacity were VSAQ score in the year prior to surgery and performance of regular aerobic exercise in the postoperative period.


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that older patients attain good self-reported functional outcomes after surgery; however, the time course for recovery is more protracted than for younger patients. Functional capacity in the year prior to surgery and postoperative exercise are key predictors of 1-year functional capacity.
Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, NC, USA. Lpierson@vt.edu
Lee M
LM
Pierson
H James
HJ
Norton
William G
WG
Herbert
Mary E
ME
Pierson
Warren K
WK
Ramp
Gary M
GM
Kiebzak
John M
JM
Fedor
Joseph W
JW
Cook
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005080:Exercise Test; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires