Table 1 Baseline socio-demographic and medical characteristics of the deep breathing and control groups

Deep Breathing Group (n = 32)

Control Group (n = 34)

Test

p

Characteristics

Mean ± SD

Mean ± SD

Age (years)

60.25 ± 13.08

60.85 ± 12.51

−0.19^a

0.84

Body mass index(kg/m²)

27.42 ± 6.51

26.81 ± 4.84

0.42^a

0.66

Smoking duration (Mean ± SD)

31.47 ± 17.24

28.10 ± 20.69

0.55^a

0.58

n(%)

n(%)

Gender

 Female

9(28.1)

12(35.3)

0.39^b

0.53

 Male

23(71.9)

22(64.7)

Marital status

 Married

30(93.8)

32(94.1)

0.00^b

0.95

 Single

2(6.3)

2(5.9)

Education

 Illiterate

2(6.2)

5(14.7)

6.05^b

0.30

 Primary education

18(56.2)

21(61.8)

 High school

6(18.8)

6(17.6)

 University and above

6(18.8)

2(5.9)

History of smoking

 Yes

15(46.9)

13(38.2)

0.50^b

0.47

 No

17(53.1)

21(61.8)

Surgical intervention

 Coronary Artery Bypass Graft

24(75.0)

26(79.4)

 Mitral Valve Replacement

3(9.4)

2(5.9)

 Aortic Valve Replacement

3(9.4)

3(7.7)

 Tricuspid Valve Replacement

1(3.1)

2(5.9)

 Aortic Valve Replacement and Mitral Valve Replacement

1(3.1)

1(1.1)

Presence chronic disease

 Yes

19(59.4)

26(76.5)

2.22^b

0.13

 No

13(40.6)

8(23.5)

Chronic disease^c

 Coronary Artery Disease

24(75.0)

26(79.4)

 Heart Valve Disease

8(25.0)

8(20.6)

 Diabetes Mellitus

13(40.6)

15(44.1)

 Cardiac diseases

0(0.0)

2(5.9)

 Hypertension

10(31.3)

13(38.2)

 Liver disease

0(0.0)

1(2.9)

 Cancer

0(0.0)

1(2.9)

 Chronic Renal Diseases

0(0.0)

3(8.8)

 Hipo- or hyper-thyroidism

0(0.0)

2(5.9)

 Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

1(3.1)

1(2.9)

Presence of PPC

 Yes

1(3.1)

8(23.5)

5.82

0.01

 No

31(96.9)

26(76.5)

PPC

 Atelectasis

0(0.0)

3(8.8)

 Pneumonia

1(3.1)

2(5.9)

 Pleural effusion

0(0.0)

2(5.9)

 Emphysema

0(0.0)

1(2.9)

Presence of complications other than PPC

 Yes

16(50.0)

17(50.0)

2.95

0.08

 No

16(50.0)

17(50.0)

Complications other than PPC^e

 Urinary tract infection

0(0.0)

3(8.8)

 Atrial fibrillation

4(12.5)

9(25.5)

 Acute Renal Injury

10(31.3)

3(8.8)

 Cardiac arrest

1(3.1)

1(2.9)

 Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

1(3.1)

2(5.9)

 Reintubation

2(6.3)

0(0.0)

 Sternal wound infection

1(3.1)

1(2.9)

 Hemodynamic instability

0(0.0)

2(5.9)

 Catheter-related infection

1(3.1)

1(2.9)

 Sepsis

1(3.1)

0(0.0)

Preoperative Chest X-ray

 Normal

32(100.0)

34(100.0)

Postoperative Chest X-ray

 Normal

31(96.9)

26(76.5)

5.82

0.01

 Pathological

1(3.1)

8(23.5)

Chest X-ray before discharge

 Normal

32(100)

34(100)