Relationship Between Preoperative Gait Speed and Discharge Disposition After Open Heart Surgery: An Observational Study

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

10-2020

Publication Title

Cardiopulmonary Physical Therapy Journal

Abstract

Purpose: To examine the relationship between gait speed before open heart surgery and discharge disposition. The hypothesis was that slower gait speeds before surgery may increase the likelihood of discharge to a skilled nursing facility after surgery and faster gait speeds may predict that patients were more likely to discharge home.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of 720 medical records. Gait speed was measured through a 5-m walk test before cardiac surgery. Discharge disposition was examined for a relationship to gait speed.

Results: Slower gait speeds before surgery increased the likelihood of discharge to a rehabilitation facility or a skilled nursing facility while faster gait speeds increased the likelihood of discharge home. Mean gait speed for discharge home (5.2 seconds) was statistically significantly different from discharge to rehab or institution (6.9 seconds, P < .0001). There was also a significant correlation between discharge disposition and preoperative assistive device use (P < .0001).

Conclusions: Slower gait speeds before surgery showed an increased likelihood of discharge to a skilled nursing facility after surgery, and faster gait speeds lead to patients being able to go home after the surgery.

Volume

31

Issue

4

First Page

134

Last Page

141

DOI

10.1097/CPT.0000000000000123

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