Long Term Cardiovascular Disease Event Risk for Patients Undergoing Major Non-Cardiac Surgery

Patients who experience a medical event are often motivated to improve their health by engaging in healthy lifestyle behaviors, such as improving their diet and beginning to exercise. For example, patients who are considered smokers prior to surgery may sometimes stop smoking following surgery. However, we are unsure of other changes following surgery. For example, we are unsure if surgery can initiate any changes in exercise and diet, and we are unsure if these changes can influence the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Consistent and positive lifestyle changes will likely reduce an individual's risk of developing cardiovascular disease in the long term.

Inclusion criteria

• Age 45 - 75 years
• Scheduled for intermediate- to high risk non-cardiac surgery (intra-thoracic or intra-abdominal surgery, all vascular surgery, intra-cranial neurosurgery, spine surgery)
• Expected post-operative length of stay of at least two days, according to the surgeon's expectation
• At least two of the following CVD risk factors:

History of: Hypertension, Diabetes, Coronary artery disease, Chronic heart failure, Chronic kidney disease, Cerebrovascular disease, Peripheral vascular disease.

Obesity (BMI >25 kg/m2), Current smoking, Poor exercise capacity (<4 METS)

Exclusion criteria

• Currently participating in a CVD risk reduction program
• Patient is scheduled to undergo transplant or has undergone emergency surgery
• Life expectancy <1 year (palliative surgery)
• Recent (<6 months) myocardial infarction or stroke
• Surgery scheduled <1 month
• Inability to effectively communicate