title: Short-term and long-term outcome in low body mass index patients undergoing cardiac surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We sought to assess the effect of low body mass index (BMI) on short- and long-term outcomes following cardiac surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a retrospective review of a prospectively collected departmental database over a 6-year period. Patients were eligible for the study if the BMI was <25 kg/m(2). All morbidities, length of hospital stay, and short- and long-term mortality were reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 704 patients divided into low (n = 71) and normal (n = 633) BMI. Postoperative pulmonary complications were higher in the low BMI group compared to the normal BMI group (24% vs. 11%, P < 0.001) with a higher incidence of in-hospital mortality (10% vs. 5%). Using multiple logistic regression, low BMI was an independent risk factor for in-hospital mortality. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year survivals for the low group were 90%, 78%, and 70% compared to 94%, 86%, and 81% in the normal BMI group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Low BMI is associated with increased morbidity and mortality following cardiac surgery. Risk scoring systems should utilize the BMI in the preoperative risk assessment with special attention to low BMI.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Chest Disease Hospital, Kuwait City, Kuwait. trinityq8@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Nael
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Al-Sarraf
authors.forename: Adnan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Raza
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rowley
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tolan
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: Eillish
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: McGovern
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015992:Body Mass Index; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate / Q000639:trends; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult