Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Multimorbidity in elderly patients increases complications and retards the recovery of pulmonary function after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery. We aimed to evaluate the impact of multiple-intervention pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) on respiratory muscle strength and dyspnea scores after CABG in adult patients aged ≥65 years who had multimorbidity. METHODS: A cohort study was retrospectively conducted with 95 adults aged ≥65 years who underwent CABG surgery and completed a multiple-intervention PR program. RESULTS: Patients in the non-multimorbidity (n = 56) and multimorbidity groups (n = 39) were evaluated on the basis of their muscle strength, degree of dyspnea, and pulmonary function. Postoperative complications were compared after the completion of PR. Between extubation days 1 and 14, the multimorbidity group showed significant improvements in maximal inspiratory pressure (16.91 vs. 24.95 cmH(2)O, P < 0.001), Borg Scale score (0.99 vs. 2.3, P < 0.001), and the ratio of forced expiratory volume in 1 s to forced vital capacity (FEV(1)/FVC ratio) of 7.02% vs. 13.4% (P = 0.01). The incidence rates of pulmonary complications were similar between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Multi-interventional PR program significantly improved the maximal inspiratory pressure, Borg scale score, and FEV(1)/FVC ratio in the adult patients aged ≥65 years who had multimorbidity after undergoing CABG surgery.