Comorbidities in adult cardiac surgical patients

Background: The objective of this study was to describe the prevalence of comorbidities in adult cardiac surgical patients and their impact on post-operative outcomes. Methods: This was an observational analysis of patients presenting for cardiac surgery at Queen Alia Heart Institute in the period between September 2023 and January 2024. Patients’ demographics, comorbidities, type of surgery (cardiac pathology), intensive care unit and hospital length of stay were analysed. Patients were divided into four groups according to their number of extra cardiac comorbidities: Group 0 with no comorbidities, group 1 with 1 comorbidity, group 2 with 2 comorbidities and group 3 with more than 2 comorbidities. These groups were compared in relation to extubation time, intensive care unit length of stay, hospital stay and mortality. Results: Data from 152 adult cardiac surgical patients who underwent 159 procedures was analysed. Male patients were 123 (80.9%). Average age of patients was 57 years and 32 patients (21%) were over 65 years. Most common procedure was CABG 130. Most common comorbidities were: hypertension as 113 (74.3%), diabetes 81 (53.26%), obesity 57 (37.5%), smoking history or respiratory disease 106 (69.73%), peripheral vascular disease 5 (3.29%), renal failure 4 (2.63%). The average Euroscore was 5.25%. Majority of patients 59.9% had more than two extra cardiac comorbidities. Time of tracheal extubation increased from 8.2 hours in group 0 to 18.4 hours in group 3. Mortality increased from 0% in group 0 to 12.1% in group 3. Conclusions: Most of the cardiac surgical patients present with more than two extra cardiac morbidities. As the number of preoperative comorbidities increases; the longer is the duration of postoperative mechanical ventilation and the mortality.