Major heart surgery places significant stress on the human body and can lead to complications, particularly in patients with limited physiological reserves. A recent study from The Chinese University of Hong Kong’s (CUHK) Faculty of Medicine (CU Medicine) highlights the benefits of regular exercise training several weeks before surgery, known as physical prehabilitation, in optimising the health status of vulnerable or frail patients. Researchers hope the study results will encourage hospitals to implement physical prehabilitation programmes for patients scheduled for elective heart surgery to improve outcomes and support a smoother recovery process. Study details have been published in the British Journal of Anaesthesia.

Press release date: 7 November 2024