Self-reported physical activity and lung function two months after cardiac surgery – a prospective cohort study

Table 3 Difference in lung function between sedentary or less active and active patients

	Before surgery						Two months after surgery		Difference between groups regarding change after 2 months (95% CI)
	Sedentary/less active	Active	p-value	Sedentary/less active	Active	p-value	Sedentary/less active	Active		p-value
Variable	Value (L)	Value (L)		% predicted	% predicted		% preoperative	% preoperative
VC	3.9 ± 1	4.1 ± 1	0.22	88 ± 15	92 ± 15	0.10	91 ± 9	94 ± 11	3% (0.4 to 7)	0.027*
FVC	3.7 ± 1	3.9 ± 1	0.15	84 ± 15	89 ± 15	0.05	91 ± 10	94 ± 11	3% (-0.3 to 6)	0.076
FEV1	2.8 ± 1	2.9 ± 1	0.22	87 ± 17	90 ± 17	0.21	90 ± 11	93 ± 11	3% (-0.6 to 6)	0.119
IC	3.1 ± 1	3.1 ± 1	0.88	87 ± 20	93 ± 21	0.10	88 ± 19	94 ± 14	6% (2 to 11)	0.008*
FRC	3.3 ± 1	3.5 ± 1	0.19	109 ± 49	99 ± 28	0.06	96 ± 11	98 ± 12	2% (-2 to 6)	0.301
RV	2.6 ± 1	2.5 ± 1	0.64	108 ± 35	100 ± 25	0.05	95 ± 17	97 ± 14	2% (-2 to 7)	0.281
TLC	6.4 ± 1	6.6 ± 1	0.53	93 ± 12	93 ± 12	0.95	90 ± 11	96 ± 11	6% (2 to 9)	0.001*

Sedentary/less active = patients who remained sedentary or decreased their level of activity, two months after surgery. Active = patients who remained active or increased their level of activity two months after surgery.
Data are presented as mean ± SD (95% CI of the difference). The two months values are expressed as percentages of preoperative values. P-value refers to the difference between sedentary/less active (n = 53) and active patients (n = 230), *indicates significant differences (p < 0.05).
VC vital capacity, FVC forced vital capacity, FEV1 forced expiratory volume in one second, IC inspiratory capacity, FRC functional residual capacity, RV residual volume, TLC total lung capacity.

ISSN: 1749-8090