Preoperative Physical Activity Predicts Surgical Outcomes Following Lung Cancer Resection

Area of Science:

• Thoracic Surgery
• Pulmonary Medicine
• Clinical Outcomes Research

Background:

• Postoperative complications significantly impact patient recovery and healthcare costs following anatomical lung resection.
• Identifying reliable predictors of postoperative outcomes is crucial for optimizing patient management and surgical strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if preoperative physical activity levels can predict the incidence of complications after anatomical lung resection.
• To explore the association between physical activity and key postoperative outcomes such as complications, length of stay, and readmission rates.

Main Methods:

• Ninety patients undergoing anatomical lung resection had their daily physical activity (steps) measured for 15 days preoperatively using pedometers.
• Patients were categorized into quartiles based on physical activity levels (low to high).
• Outcomes assessed included cardiac/respiratory complications, hospital length of stay, and 30-day readmission rates.

Main Results:

• Analysis of 78 patients revealed significantly fewer total complications in the higher physical activity quartiles (3 and 4) compared to the lower quartiles (1 and 2) (8 vs 22, P = .01).
• A trend towards shorter hospital length of stay was observed in higher activity groups (median 4-5 days) versus lower activity groups (median 6 days).
• No significant differences in baseline characteristics (age, smoking, COPD, BMI, lung function, cardiovascular risk factors) were found between activity quartiles.

Conclusions:

• Preoperative physical activity is a significant predictor of postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing anatomical lung resection.
• Quantifying physical activity can aid in stratifying surgical risk and monitoring the effectiveness of preoperative interventions.
• Enhancing preoperative physical activity may lead to improved short-term outcomes and reduced complication rates.