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Limited preoperative physical capacity continues to be associated with poor postoperative outcomes within a colorectal ERAS programme

Aim Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) programmes aim to standardise perioperative care leading to optimal patient outcomes. Despite these programmes, variation in outcomes still persists. This study aimed to assess the influence of lifestyle factors on short‐term outcomes after colorectal surgery within this optimal recovery programme. Methods Consecutive patients enrolled on an ERAS pathway who underwent elective colorectal surgery (June 2013 to July 2014) at one site were included. We used data routinely collected by ERAS nurse specialists and during preassessment to analyse association between patient and lifestyle factors and likelihood of developing postoperative complications or having an increased length of stay. Results A total of 199 patients were included: mean age 61.8 years (range 17‐90 years) and 53.8% male. Age, sex, deprivation, smoking status, alcohol intake, body mass index or level of comorbidity were not associated with postoperative complications. Patients reporting limited preoperative physical capacity (unable to climb two flights of stairs) were more than four times as likely to have a postoperative complication on univariate analysis and were found to still have increased risk of postoperative complications on multivariate analysis. Patients reporting limited preoperative physical capacity were shown to have significantly longer hospital stay on univariate analysis. In the multivariate analysis, limited physical capacity was not associated with prolonged length of stay due to confounding factors of age and deprivation. Conclusions Limited physical capacity was the only patient and lifestyle factor associated with poorer postoperative complications and prolonged hospital stay after elective colorectal surgery within an ERAS programme. Consideration should be given to individualised prehabilitation that aims to increase physical capacity pre‐operatively to improve patient outcomes.