Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Jan 10: Heart surgeries that begin later in the morning may carry a higher risk of death from cardiovascular causes compared to procedures performed earlier in the day, according to new research from the University of Manchester in the UK.
The study suggests that aligning surgical schedules with human body clock biology could open the door to more personalised and precise medical care. Researchers note that natural biological rhythms differ among individuals, with some people functioning better earlier in the day and others later, a factor that could influence surgical outcomes.
Drawing on national healthcare data from more than 24,000 patients across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the researchers found that heart operations starting in the late morning were associated with an 18 per cent higher risk of death from heart-related causes compared to those beginning in the early morning.
Early-morning procedures, between 7:00 am and 9:59 am, were the most common, accounting for nearly half — 47 per cent — of all heart surgeries analysed. While the timing of surgery did not appear to affect complication rates or hospital readmissions, the findings raise important questions about optimal scheduling for cardiac procedures.
Published in the journal Anaesthesia, the study also highlights the broader role of the body clock — the internal 24-hour biological system that regulates cellular and organ functions — in influencing surgical outcomes.
Lead author Dr Gareth Kitchen, Clinical Senior Lecturer at the University of Manchester, said the results point to a measurable, though modest, increase in risk linked to late-morning surgery. He emphasized that even small improvements in timing could translate into meaningful benefits for patients.
Dr Kitchen reassured patients that the overall risk remains low and that most individuals are unlikely to be affected. However, he noted that adjusting surgery schedules could be a cost-effective way for clinicians to improve outcomes.
With further research into how individual body clocks differ, the study suggests that one day cardiac surgeries could be scheduled in a more personalised manner, potentially improving survival and long-term results for patients.