The Impact of Physical Activity on the Outcome of Surgery

Physical activity (PA) has been in focus over the last two decades as a life style factor of importance. A review summarizing nearly 170 studies states that the scientific evidence for the association between lack of physical activity and cancer is convincing regarding breast and colon cancer and probable for prostate cancer and possible for lung and endometrial cancer (8). Regarding postoperative rehabilitation the benefits from preoperative physical exercise together with a postoperative early rehabilitation schedule has been reported for spinal surgery (9). In colorectal surgery the benefits of enhanced recovery programs have been clearly demonstrated (10). The impact of preoperative prehabilitation has been evaluated and seems beneficial (11, 12), however most studies have not used clinically important outcome measures such as complications or postoperative morbidity. The evidence for prehabilitation as a measure to reduce postoperative morbidity is scarce (12). To evaluate the recovery after a surgical procedure in a broader sense is difficult. Several scales have been tried to assess recovery (13-16).

The simple instrument for self-reported PA introduced by Saltin and Grimby has been shown to discriminate between sedentary and active counterparts regarding maximum oxygen uptake (17) and has been validated against biological measures (18). Indeed, studies have indicated that such single self-reported approximation of the level of PA, may predict risk for morbidity and cardiovascular as well as total mortality (19-21). The self-assessed PA-level concurs well with the actual physical fitness of the individual (22-24). This is also important, since cardiorespiratory fitness may also predict cardiovascular risk and mortality (25).

There are also studies indicating that other life-style factors such as alcohol consumption has a negative impact on outcome after surgery as well as outcome after health-care associated infections (26, 27). To screen for excessive alcohol consumption the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Consumption (AUDIT) test has been used. Several recent studies have indicated that a shorter survey with the top three questions in the AUDIT questionnaire (AUDIT-C) is sufficient to provide information on alcohol use (28, 29).

Smoking is also a life-style factor that affects surgical outcome (30). It has been shown to increase the risk for complications and studies indicate that smoking cessation prior to the surgical procedure to reduce the risk for complications (31). Self-reported assessment of smoking seems to be accurate and reflect the actual nicotine use of the individual (32).

Length of hospital stay is of importance both to patients and the society. A surgical procedure that shortens hospital stay may be cost-effective even in cases with higher operation room costs (33). It is also of importance to consider time to work/sick leave; a cost for patients and society that can affect the cost analysis of a surgical procedure (34).

The aim of this study is to investigate whether a higher physical activity prior to a surgical procedure reduces hospital stay, sick leave and the complication rate.

A secondary aim is to investigate the effect of preoperative physical activity on the rate of resumption of QoL and normal physical function.

In order to explore the importance of PA for the outcome after a surgical procedure due to gallbladder disease, breast cancer and colorectal cancer we will ask all patients operated for any of the three above mentioned conditions to answer a short questionnaire (Appendix I) including the Saltin and Grimby (7) questions to study of the effects of the level of PA immediately before surgical operations. The patients will be asked to estimate their physical activity four weeks prior to the surgical procedure.

1. Mostly sedentary
2. Light PA (such as gardening or walking or bicycling to work) at least two hours a week
3. Moderate PA such as aerobics, dancing, swimming, playing football or heavy gardening) at least two hours a week
4. Vigorous PA (high intensity) at least five hours daily several times a week.

They will also be asked to report weight, length, smoking habits, alcohol consumption, socioeconomic situation, diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidaemia and BMI as well as certain questions with relation to Quality of Life and their postoperative recovery (Appendix I). The questions are to some extent validated through previous research (28, 29, 32, 47, 48) but some questions are newly constructed. The new questions have been constructed by an expert panel consisting of colorectal and general surgeons, cardiologist and specialized nurses. The domains chosen have been related to previous research regarding recovery (42). The questionnaire has been face-to face validated by patients with gall bladder surgery planned or a previous cholecystectomy performed, patients with breast cancer both prior and after surgery and colorectal cancer patients prior and after surgery using the same validation methods previously described for prostate cancer (48).

All patients will be contacted by telephone and a subsequently receive a mailed questionnaire (similar to the pre-operative questionnaire) (Appendix II) regarding their self-assessed QoL post-operatively and postoperative recovery, the timing of this will be related to the estimated time for recovery as follows:

• 3 weeks after gallbladder surgery
• 3 and 6 weeks after surgery for breast cancer
• 3 and 6 weeks after surgery for colorectal cancer