Physical, cognitive, and mental function in patients with pre- and post cardiac surgery: A pre–post comparative study

Aims and Background: Cardiac surgery is a lifesaving procedure, however, it is also associated with decline in physical, cognitive, and mental function postsurgery. These impairments are found to be associated not just postsurgery but are also evident before surgery. Hence, this study aims to assess the changes in physical, cognitive, and mental function in patients before and after cardiac surgery. Methods: This was a pre–post observational study including 47 patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery. Barthel Index, Montreal Cognitive Assessment, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale were used to evaluate physical, cognitive, and mental function, respectively, on 1 day before surgery, postoperative day 3 (POD 3), and POD 7. Results: About 68.1% of the patients were functionally independent 1 day before surgery which significantly reduced to 6.4% postsurgery. About 70% of patients already had moderate-to-severe cognitive impairment 1 day before surgery, which increased to 70.2% severe impairment on POD 3. About 40.4% of the patients had moderate anxiety 1 day before surgery that increased to 57.4% postsurgery, while 46.8% of patients had no symptoms of depression 1 day before surgery, but almost 55.3% of the patients had moderate depression postsurgery. Conclusion: There was a decline in physical, cognitive as well as mental function both before and after the surgery. The majority of the patients already experienced a decline in physical, cognitive, and mental function before surgery, thereby highlighting the importance of taking detailed preoperative assessment to have the complete picture of the patient’s condition.