What?
Around 35,000 patients have heart surgery in the UK every year. It is well known that patients who are less active and have more health problems are more likely to have complications after their heart surgery.
Patients currently receive a period of heart rehabilitation after their surgery to help them recover and get back to as full a life as possible, but it is now recognised that an exercise programme carried out prior to surgery (called prehabilitation) can improve recovery and quality of life post surgery.
The aim of this trial is to find out if prehabilitation can reduce hospital stays and reduce complications post surgery.
How?
180 eligible and consenting patients who are due to be having heart surgery will be split into two groups.
One group will receive the standard advice given prior to surgery and the other group will take part in a four week prehabilitation programme consisting of twice weekly supervised exercise classes, a home exercise programme and breathing exercises.
All participants will complete a questionnaire about their general health and have a fitness test before and after their surgery. This data will be analysed to determine which group does better after their surgery.
Chief investigator
Enoch Akowuah
Current status
Ongoing
Participating sites
South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.