Study: Prehabilitation reduces surgical complications, speeds recovery

Editor's Note

Patients who engage in prehabilitation—exercise, diet changes, and social support—before surgery significantly reduce their risk of complications, shorten hospital stays, and improve recovery, according to a new evidence review in The BMJ.

As reported January 24 by HealthDay, the analysis of 186 clinical trials involving more than 15,500 patients found that exercise alone reduced complication risk by 50%, a healthy diet lowered it by 38%, and combining exercise, diet, and social support led to a 36% reduction. Patients who incorporated exercise and social support into their pre-surgical routine spent more than two fewer days in the hospital, while those who combined exercise and diet reduced their stay by more than a day.

However, the healthcare system has yet to establish an effective, scalable method to integrate prehabilitation into routine surgical care, HealthDay reports. Two large clinical trials are currently underway to further evaluate prehabilitation’s effectiveness, with results from one at The Ottawa Hospital expected in March.