Recovery of lung function, dominant handgrip strength, and health-related quality of life in cardiac surgical patients following hospital discharge

Purpose: Assessment of recovery in post-cardiac surgical patients is commonly conducted using lung function, dominant handgrip strength (DHGS) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The aim of this study was to determine the recovery of lung function, DHGS and HRQoL in cardiac surgical patients at six-weeks and six-months after hospital discharge. Further, this study investigated the association between these parameters and the predictive ability of DHGS for lung function and HRQoL.
Methods: A prospective observational study that involved 58 cardiac surgical patients who completed lung function, DHGS and HRQoL assessments pre-operatively, at six-weeks and six-months after hospital discharge. Lung function was assessed using three different calibrated spirometers, while DHGS was measured using three different calibrated handgrip dynamometers. The Short-Form 36 questionnaire was utilized for HRQoL assessment.
Results: At six-weeks after hospital discharge, lung function and DHGS were significantly (pConclusion: Variable changes were identified in lung function, DHGS and HRQoL in cardiac surgical patients at six-weeks and six-months after hospital discharge. Dominant HGS may have limited or no value in predicting lung function and HRQoL in cardiac surgical patients during the intermediate recovery period.