title: Time in the stair-climbing test as a predictor of thoracotomy postoperative complications.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The stair-climbing test as measured in meters or number of steps has been proposed to predict the risk of postoperative complications. The study objective was to determine whether the stair-climbing time can predict the risk of postoperative complications.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients aged more than 18 years with a recommendation of thoracotomy for lung resection were included in the study. Spirometry was performed according to the criteria by the American Thoracic Society. The stair-climbing test was performed on shaded stairs with a total of 12.16 m in height, and the stair-climbing time in seconds elapsed during the climb of the total height was measured. The accuracy test was applied to obtain stair-climbing time predictive values, and the receiver operating characteristic curve was calculated. Variables were tested for association with postoperative cardiopulmonary complications using the Student t test for independent populations, the Mann-Whitney test, and the chi-square or Fisher exact test. Logistic regression analysis was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ninety-eight patients were evaluated. Of these, 27 showed postoperative complications. Differences were found between the groups for age and attributes obtained from the stair-climbing test. The cutoff point for stair-climbing time obtained from the receiver operating characteristic curve was 37.5 seconds. No differences were found between the groups for forced expiratory volume in 1 second. In the logistic regression, stair-climbing time was the only variable associated with postoperative complications, suggesting that the risk of postoperative complications increases with increased stair-climbing time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The only variable showing association with complications, according to multivariate analysis, was stair-climbing time.
authors.affiliation: Program on General Basis of Surgery, Botucatu School of Medicine, São Paulo State University, UNESP, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alexandre Ricardo Pepe
authors.initials: ARP
authors.lastname: Ambrozin
authors.affiliation: Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Botucatu School of Medicine, São Paulo State University, UNESP, São Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address: dcataneo@fmb.unesp.br.
authors.forename: Daniele Cristina
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Cataneo
authors.affiliation: Program on General Basis of Surgery, Botucatu School of Medicine, São Paulo State University, UNESP, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Karine Aparecida
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Arruda
authors.affiliation: Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Botucatu School of Medicine, São Paulo State University, UNESP, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Antônio José Maria
authors.initials: AJM
authors.lastname: Cataneo
mesh_terms: D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D013908:Thoracotomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013997:Time Factors