Mental health and social status are related to postoperative status after bilateral lung volume reduction surgery

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship of patients' perceived health status to days hospitalized (DH), days in the ICU (DICU), days intubated (DI), days with chest tubes (DCT), pulmonary complications (PC), and death after bilateral lung volume reduction surgery (VRS). Methods: 25 patients (mean±SD, age=60±7 yrs; 10 males, 15 females) with obstructive lung disease (FEV₁=25±8%; FVC=51±18%) completed the SF-36 Health Status Profile prior to VRS and the results were used to evaluate the univariate and multivariate relationships to postoperative status (PS) after VRS. Results: Significant univariate correlations were found between mental health and DH (r=0.48, r²=0.23; p=0.02) and DI (r=0.55, r²=0.30; p=0.004). No measure of physical status was associated with PS. Multivariate analysis identified social status as a significant predictor of PS. Conclusions: Patients' perceived health status is related to PS after VRS. Mental health and social status were significant predictors of PS after VRS. Clinical Implications: Measurement of patients' perceived health status may improve PS by identifying patients in need of mental health care or social services prior to VRS.