Author:

Keywords:

Science & Technology, Life Sciences & Biomedicine, Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems, Nursing, Cardiovascular System & Cardiology, Risk assessment, cardiac surgery, risk factors, Adult, Aged, Attitude to Health, Cardiac Surgical Procedures, Female, Heart Failure, Humans, Inpatients, Male, Middle Aged, Risk Assessment, Risk Factors, Socioeconomic Factors, 1102 Cardiorespiratory Medicine and Haematology, 1110 Nursing, 1117 Public Health and Health Services, 3201 Cardiovascular medicine and haematology, 4205 Nursing

Abstract:

Risk assessment in cardiac surgery traditionally consists of medical and physiological parameters. However, non-physiological factors have also been found to be predictive of poor outcomes following cardiac surgery. Therefore, the isolated focus on physiological parameters is questionable. This paper describes the emotional, behavioural, social and functional factors that have been established to play a role in outcomes following cardiac surgery. This forms a basis for future research, testing the value of these factors above and beyond the physiological parameters. By including such non-physiological factors, the accuracy of the existing risk scoring systems could potentially be improved.