Chronic Disease Management and Optimization of Functional Status Before Surgery: Does This Improve Long-Term Postoperative Outcomes?

Abstract

Abstract Purpose of the Review Perioperative care is facing many challenges; these include long surgical wait times, an increasing demand for surgery, a more complex perioperative population, and increased health inequalities. As perioperative care providers, we have an opportunity to shape the future of perioperative care and address these challenges by working to improve the health of those presenting for surgery. Recent Findings There is equipoise in the literature on the impact of chronic disease management and functional status optimization, but we feel that it is now time to embed these concepts into perioperative care and up-to-date guidance and policy support this. Summary Clinicians have the opportunity to improve the care of complex patients in the perioperative period, and they can contribute to the development of robust, equitable, and streamlined perioperative pathways. However, perioperative care also affords the opportunity to engage, educate, and empower patients in their health looking beyond purely surgical outcomes, aiming for improved long-term health management and behavioural modification.