Approved Research

The role of muscle on health outcomes in patients who have undergone non-oncologic major surgery.

Lay summary

There are over 7.4 million people waiting for a consultant led elective treatment, which is a 175% increase of the pre COVID-19 figures (NHS, 2022). These figures are predicted to rise, placing the healthcare system under extreme pressure. Data regarding cardiac surgical patients, highlights the average wait time for elective surgery is 104 days. Over 7 thousand patients are currently waiting 1-year or above for a cardiac procedure, a 247 times increase on the figures before the pandemic (BHF, 2022). Major surgery is demanding in nature and an individual's health status before their procedure is important to help them avoid any complications (Cusack and Buggy, 2020). For many, reduced physical activity levels combined with age related bodily processes such as loss of strength and loss of muscle mass (sarcopenia), will place them at a disadvantage physically before their surgery (Huang et al., 2017; Prado et al., 2018). Thus, increasing the risk of negative events during and after surgery.

Frailty is an ageing disease which limits an individual's physical capabilities, leading to reduced physical function and deterioration (Yuguchi et al., 2019). Sarcopenia is related to frailty, which can be measured by strength testing and body composition analysis (Beaudart et al., 2019; Cruz-Jentoft et al., 2019). Low muscular strength and low muscle mass can be a predictor of surgical related complications and lower 30-day survival rates within cancer surgeries (Huang et al., 2017; Weerink et al., 2020). However, research in non-cancer related surgeries is limited. Therefore, more research is needed to highlight the impact of sarcopenia in non-cancer patients in major surgery, regarding clinical outcomes.

This research has several benefits. First, is to provide further insight for medical and exercise professionals regarding sarcopenia and muscle weakness in major surgery. Secondly, is to assist with development of pre surgical interventions (prehabilitation), with the aim to reduce deterioration and improve patient outcomes. The research will last for 12-36 months. The aims of the research are to highlight the effect of sarcopenia and muscle weakness on surgical related complications, mortality, and quality of life in major surgery in non-cancer patients. Further aims are to show the effect of nutrition on people with sarcopenia and muscle weakness relating to surgical related complications and mortality in major surgery. The last aim is to highlight the effect of muscle mass independently, using specialist equipment (DXA) regarding surgical related complications and mortality in major surgery.