Relationship Between the Change in Post-Cardiovascular Surgery Patients' 6-min Walking Distance and Physical Activity...

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Exercise Physiology

Background:

• The 6-minute walking distance (6MWD) is a crucial measure of exercise tolerance and a predictor of life expectancy in patients post-cardiovascular surgery.
• The relationship between in-hospital physical activity levels, types of activity, and changes in 6MWD after cardiovascular surgery remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between changes in 6MWD and physical activity levels, categorized by activity type, in patients recovering from cardiovascular surgery.

Main Methods:

• Seventy patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery were grouped based on 6MWD changes (pre-surgery vs. pre-discharge).
• Physical activity was objectively measured using triaxial accelerometers post-ICU transfer.
• Activities were classified as locomotive or non-locomotive and by intensity (light-intensity physical activity [LPA] and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity [MVPA]).

Main Results:

• Patients with improved 6MWD (≥0 change) were younger and achieved Activities of Daily Living (ADL) independence earlier.
• In the first week post-ICU, the improved 6MWD group showed higher locomotive MVPA.
• In the subsequent week, the improved 6MWD group demonstrated higher non-locomotive LPA and MVPA.

Conclusions:

• Post-cardiovascular surgery patients who showed an increase in 6MWD exhibited higher overall physical activity.
• Locomotive activity was particularly important in the initial week after ICU discharge.
• Non-locomotive activity became more significant from the second week onwards, contributing to 6MWD improvement.