Aims
To investigate the effects of a 12-week early moderate-intensity resistance training
program compared to aerobic-based rehabilitation on postoperative cognitive recovery
following cardiac surgery via median sternotomy.
Methods
This was a multicentre, prospective, pragmatic, non-blinded, pilot randomised controlled
trial (1:1 randomisation) of two parallel groups that compared a 12-week early moderate-intensity
resistance training group to a control group, receiving aerobic-based rehabilitation.
English-speaking adults (≥18 years) undergoing elective cardiac surgery via median
sternotomy were randomised using sealed envelopes, with allocation revealed before
surgery. The primary outcome was cognitive function, assessed using the Alzheimer’s
Disease Assessment Scale-cognitive subscale (ADAS-cog), at baseline, 14 weeks and
6 months postoperatively.
Results
The ADAS-cog score at 14 weeks was significantly better for the resistance training
group (n=14, 7.2±1.4; 95% CI 4.3, 10.2, vs n=17, 9.2±1.3; 95% CI 6.6, 11.9, p=0.010).
At 14 weeks postoperatively, 53% of the aerobic-based rehabilitation group (n=9/17)
experienced cognitive decline by two points or more from baseline ADAS-cog score,
compared to 0% of the resistance training group (n=0/14; p=0.001).
Conclusion
Early resistance training appears to be safe and may improve cognitive recovery compared
to standard, aerobic-based rehabilitation following cardiac surgery via median sternotomy,
however as this was a pilot study, the sample size was small and further research
is needed to determine a causal relationship.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: October 06, 2021
Accepted:
August 25,
2021
Received in revised form:
August 21,
2021
Received:
May 31,
2021
Footnotes
Trial registration: Prospectively registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ID: ACTRN12617001430325p) on 9 October 2017. Universal Trial Number (UTN):U1111-1203-2131.
Identification
Copyright
© 2021 Australian and New Zealand Society of Cardiac and Thoracic Surgeons (ANZSCTS) and the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand (CSANZ). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
