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.