Muscle Changes Awaiting Coronary Artery Surgery
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Muscle changes as a result of being an inpatient awaiting urgent coronary artery bypass surgery
IRAS ID
325203
Contact name
Stefan Birkett
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Manchester Metropolitan University
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 19 days
Research summary
In the United Kingdom (UK) 30,000 cardiac surgical operations take place each year. Patients who undergo heart surgery are at risk of post-operative complications such as heart attack, respiratory issues and mortality. These issues are magnified when a patient is frail. Frail patients have low muscle quantity and strength. Loss of muscle mass and strength are independently linked with postoperative complications, increased length of hospital stay and critical illness. Alarmingly patients on intensive care units will lose 2% of skeletal muscle mass each day and 10-15% of strength each week, due to being immobile. The Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic had a large impact on cardiac surgery. The mean wait time for urgent cardiac surgery (as an inpatient) in the UK currently stands at 10 days. However, there is significant variation, with wait times reaching 21 days in some parts of the UK. The long wait times may lead to extended period of immobilisation thus resulting in loss of muscle mass and a reduction in muscular strength. This cascade of events may result in patients becoming frail, increasing the risk postoperative complications (including mortality) and length of stay in hospital, further increasing the financial burden on the NHS. However, to date no studies have investigated the effect of being an inpatient awaiting urgent CABG on muscle mass and strength.
REC name
East Midlands - Leicester Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
24/EM/0247
Date of REC Opinion
18 Nov 2024
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion