Postoperative changes in fatigue, physical function and body composition: an analysis of the amalgamated data from five randomized trials on patients undergoing colorectal surgery.
OBJECTIVE
Changes in postoperative fatigue, physical function and body composition were described in patients after open colorectal surgery, and factors that predicted postoperative fatigue 1 month after surgery were identified.


METHODS
Data from five clinical intervention studies from 1991 to 2005 were amalgamated. Patients (n = 385) were examined preoperatively, at discharge and 1 month postoperatively. The level of fatigue was scored subjectively from 1 'fit' to 10 'fatigued' on a modified visual analogue scale and by objective measurements of hand grip and knee extension strength, work capacity, weight, lean body mass and fat mass. A logistic regression analysis was used to identify the predictors of a high fatigue score 1 month postoperatively.


RESULTS
Preoperatively, only 17% had a high fatigue score (≥ 5.5), whereas 65 and 30% had a high fatigue score at discharge and 1 month postoperatively, respectively. Postoperatively, there was a significant fall in physical performance, weight, lean body mass and fat mass that did not normalize by 1 month. High preoperative and discharge fatigue scores, major complications and the loss of lean body mass significantly increased the risk of fatigue 1 month postoperatively.


CONCLUSIONS
Open colorectal surgery was associated with a significant increase in postoperative fatigue and a decline in physical performance, weight and lean body mass. Major complications, a high perioperative fatigue score and the loss of lean body mass increased the risk of long-term fatigue.
Surgical Research Unit, Department of Surgery P, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark. mbj@dadlnet.dk
M B
MB
Jensen
K B
KB
Houborg
C B
CB
Nørager
M G
MG
Henriksen
S
S
Laurberg
D000368:Aged; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D017079:Exercise Tolerance / Q000502:physiology*; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D018737:Hand Strength; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology
D006454:Hemoglobins; D012709:Serum Albumin