A recent systematic review and meta-analysis published in The BMJ evaluated the effectiveness of various prehabilitation strategies—such as exercise, nutrition, cognitive, and psychosocial interventions—in enhancing postoperative outcomes for adults undergoing major surgery. The study analyzed data from 186 randomized controlled trials, encompassing over 15,000 participants.
Key Findings:
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Reduction in Postoperative Complications: Prehabilitation programs focusing solely on exercise or nutrition, as well as those combining exercise, nutrition, and psychosocial support, were associated with a significant decrease in postoperative complications compared to standard care.
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Shortened Hospital Stays: Interventions combining exercise with psychosocial support or nutrition, as well as standalone exercise or nutrition programs, effectively reduced the length of hospital stays.
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Enhanced Recovery and Quality of Life: Comprehensive programs integrating exercise, nutrition, and psychosocial components showed the most promise in improving health-related quality of life and physical recovery post-surgery.
The study underscores the potential benefits of incorporating exercise and nutritional prehabilitation into standard surgical care to improve patient outcomes.
Read the study: https://www.bmj.com/content/388/bmj-2024-081164
Published on February 19, 2025
