Influence of obstructive disorders of external respiration function on the life quality of cardiac surgery patients before surgery and physical therapy

Abstract

Aim. To investigate the impact of obstructive disorders of external respiratory function on the life quality of cardiac surgery patients at the beginning of an inpatient physical therapy program. Materials and methods. The study involved 106 patients who were hospitalized for cardiac surgery. Patients were divided into two groups according to the values of the Tiffno index. The study of external respiratory function was performed using a Spirodoc MIR spirograph and Winspiro PRO software. Quality of life was assessed using the International Standardized Health Status Survey (SF-36). Results. A study of external respiration function among cardiac surgery patients found that 18 % of those surveyed had a Tiffno index of less than 70 %. This proportion of patients was characterized by significantly lower rates of vital capacity, forced vital capacity (expiratory and inspiratory), peak expiratory flow, and forced expiratory flow at 25–75 % of forced vital capacity. However, the comparison of quality of life indicators did not establish statistical differences in any domain between the groups of patients who were formed according to the level of the Tiffno index. These results confirm the priority of the impact of the cardiovascular system on the quality of life of cardiac surgery patients. The NYHA functional class had a number of correlations with the quality of life of almost all domains. External respiratory function was less closely related to the quality of life domains. Among all domains of quality of life, the statistical indicators of the domain “the role of physical problems in the limitation of life” were the lowest in both groups of patients. The best indicators were obtained in the domain “social functioning”. Conclusions. Decreased respiratory function did not affect the quality of life of cardiac surgery patients. A possible explanation for this may be that the decrease in the Tiffno index was not large enough or critical in groups of patients with low levels of this index, as well as the presence of a more significant impact of cardiac indicators on quality of life.

Keywords

• cardiac surgery
• rehabilitation
• exercise therapy
• respiratory system