Prognostic Factors among Patients Referred for Inpatient Rehabilitation after Cardiac Surgery

Objective: Comprehensive rehabilitation and continuous management after cardiac surgery are crucial for optimal recovery. Identifying prognostic factors plays a vital role in establishing tailored strategies to enhance recovery outcomes. Therefore, this study aims to identify the factors associated with home discharge among patients who underwent inpatient rehabilitation after cardiac surgery. Methods: This retrospective study analyzed data from patients transferred to the inpatient rehabilitation department between March 2018 and March 2023 after cardiac surgery. Clinical characteristics, including past medical history, operative factors, and laboratory tests, as well as functional assessments such as the Manual Muscle Test (MMT), Functional Ambulation Category (FAC), and Modified Barthel Index (MBI), were collected. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify predictors of home discharge, and Cox regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with mortality. Results: A total of 94 patients were included. Patients discharged to home (n = 44) showed higher initial and follow-up MBI, FAC, and the sum of MMT, and shorter hospital stays. No significant differences were observed in surgery type, operative factors, or laboratory tests. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified that initial MBI and length of hospital stay as significant predictors of home discharge. Follow-up MBI was identified as a significant factor predicting post-discharge mortality. Patients with postoperative stroke showed lower initial MBI and FAC and required longer rehabilitation sessions. Significant predictors for home discharge in this subgroup included initial MBI and a higher preoperative ejection fraction. Conclusion: Patients undergoing cardiac surgery often experience significant functional impairment. Initial MBI at the time of transfer was identified as a key predictor of home discharge, while follow-up MBI was identified as a significant predictor of post-discharge mortality.