TABLE 1.
Baseline characteristics.
| Parameter | Prehabilitation group (n = 28) | Usual care group (n = 29) |
| Age (yrs) | 74 (7) | 73 (6) |
| Sex ratio (M: F) | 16 (57%): 12 (43%) | 14 (48%): 15 (52%) |
| Body mass index (kg/m2) | 29.8 (4.1) | 30.5 (4.9) |
| Smoking∗ | 1 (4%) | 6 (21%) |
| Age-adjusted Charlson comorbidity index† | ||
| 2-3 | 12 (43%) | 8 (28%) |
| 4-5 | 12 (43%) | 14 (48%) |
| 6+ | 4 (14%) | 7 (24%) |
| ASA score | ||
| I | 0 (0%) | 1 (3%) |
| II | 21 (75%) | 24 (83%) |
| III | 7 (25%) | 4 (14%) |
| VO2 at the VAT (mL/kg/min)‡ | 9.6 (1.2) | 9.1 (1.1) |
| VO2peak (mL/kg/min)§ | 14.7 (3.1) | 14.4 (2.8) |
| Haemoglobin level (mmol/L)|| | 7.9 (1.1) | 7.8 (1.2) |
| Timed up-and-go test (s)¶ | 9.7 (2.2) | 9.6 (4.0) |
| MET score on VSAQ | 4.6 (1.4) | 4.3 (1.3) |
| SNAQ score# | 0.4 (1.1) | 0.4 (0.8) |
| GFI score∗∗ | 3 (2) | 3 (3) |
| Surgical procedure | ||
| Right hemicolectomy | 15 (54%) | 12 (41%) |
| Transverse hemicolectomy | 1 (4%) | 1 (3%) |
| Left hemicolectomy | 2 (7%) | 3 (10%) |
| Sigmoid colectomy | 9 (32%) | 9 (31%) |
| APR | 1 (4%) | 0 (0%) |
| LAR | 0 (0%) | 1 (3%) |
| Subtotal colectomy | 0 (0%) | 1 (3%) |
| Other | 0 (0%) | 2 (7%) |
| Type of surgery | ||
| Open | 0 (0%) | 2 (7%) |
| Laparoscopic | 23 (82%) | 21 (72%) |
| Conversion to open | 5 (18%) | 6 (21%) |
| Time between inclusion and surgery (d) | 34.6 (28.8) | 19.0 (10.2) |
Data are number of patients (%), median (IQR) or mean (SD).
Four missing in the prehabilitation group, so in this case n = 24.
Each decade of age over 40 adds 1 point to risk (50–59 years, 1 point; 60–69 years, 2 points; 70–79 years, 3 points), and these points for age are added to the score from the Charlson comorbidity index (eg, 0, 1, 2, 3, etc).41
One missing in the usual care group, so in this case n = 28.
Ten patients (36%) in the prehabilitation group and 11 patients (38%) in the usual care group did not meet the criteria for a valid maximal effort at the baseline CPET, and 1 patient in the usual care group did not perform a CPET, so in this case n = 18 and n = 17, respectively.
Two missing in the prehabilitation group, so in this case n = 26. Hemoglobin level was assessed within three months before surgery.
One missing in the prehabilitation group and 7 missing in the usual care group, so in this case n = 27 en n = 22, respectively.
One missing in the prehabilitation group and 3 missing in the usual care group, so in this case n = 27 en n = 26, respectively.
Two missing in the prehabilitation group and 4 missing in the usual care group, so in this case n = 26 en n = 25, respectively.
APR indicates abdominal perineal resection; ASA, American Society of Anesthesiologists; GFI, Groningen frailty indicator; LAR, low anterior resection; MET, metabolic equivalent of task; N.a., not applicable; OR, odds ratio; SNAQ, short nutritional assessment questionnaire; VAT, ventilatory anaerobic threshold; VO2, oxygen uptake; VO2peak, oxygen uptake at peak exercise; VSAQ, veterans-specific activity questionnaire.