• Jorge Pérez Lopez, Jesús Negrón, Ernesto Soltero, Rafael Oms, Miguel Magraner, and Rafael Bredy.
• Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department, Baylor School of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA. jorgitopr@gmail.com
• Bol Asoc Med P R. 2011 Apr 1; 103 (2): 6-13.

UnlabelledPatients with coronary artery disease (CAD) or cardiac valve disease who have undergone cardiac surgery are prime candidates for cardiac rehabilitation. Cardiac rehabilitation is a multidisciplinary activity that aims to facilitate physical, psychological and emotional recovery. Multiple studies have evaluated preoperative characteristics of patients who undergo rehabilitation to predict improvement and prolonged length of stay after CAD surgery. This research aimed to establish which preoperative clinical and demographic characteristics are present in Puerto Rico patients that require inpatient rehabilitation after cardiac surgery.MethodologyRecord review evaluating clinical and sociodemographic variables of patients with cardiac surgery and it relationship with or without cardiac rehabilitation referral. A total of 65 records were selected: 17 records referred for inpatient rehabilitation and 48 records of patients who were discharged home.ResultsOlder patients > 65 y/o, living alone with no caregiver availability, impaired functional status, surgical status (urgent/ emergency surgery), concomitant valve surgery, BMI > 24.9, HgbA1C > 7.0%, female gender, CVA history, COPD history, PVD history, and prior weakness contribute to a functional decline, and are more likely to be associated with a referral to inpatient rehabilitation.ConclusionAn identification of these variables before surgery could lead to early intervention by skill nursing facility departmental team. This early intervention can diminish later complications, postoperative and intensive care stay.

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