The Effect of Rhythmic Breathing on the Severity of Sternotomy Pain after Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Table 1

The demographic and surgical-related characteristics of the participants in the rhythmic breathing/control groups.

Groups characteristics	RB (n = 30) N (%)	Control (n = 30) N (%)	value
Gender
Male	24 (80)	27 (90)	X^2 = 1.17, 1,  = 0.278
Female	6 (20)	3 (10)
Level of education
Below high school diploma	28 (93.3)	28 (93.3)	X^2 = 0.000, 1,  = 1
Higher education	2 (6.7)	2 (6.7)
Opium consumption
Yes	9 (30)	15 (50)	X^2 = 2.50, 1,  = 0.114
No	21 (70)	15 (50)
Underlying disease^a
Yes	24 (80)	28 (93.3)	X^2 = 2.30, 1,  = 0.129
No	6 (20)	2 (6.7)
Number of grafts
2	1 (3.3)	1 (3.3)	X^2 = 0.07, 2,  = 0.962
3	10 (33.3)	9 (30)
≥4	19 (63.4)	20 (66.7)
Number of chest tubes
2	24 (80)	27 (90)	X^2 = 1.17, 1,  = 0.278
3	6 (20)	3 (10)
	(Mean ± SD)	(Mean ± SD)	value
Age (years)	60.80 ± 9.4	62.37 ± 10.1	t(58) = −0.61,  = 0.539
BMI (kg/m2)	26.73 ± 4.4	26.03 ± 4.1	t(58) = 0.63,  = 0.526
Smoking (butts/day)	4.73 ± 10.9	9.83 ± 15.3	t(52.41) = −1.48,  = 0.204
On-pump duration (minute)	109.70 ± 25.3	111.90 ± 28	t(58) = −0.32,  = 0.751
Ejection fraction (%)	46.50 ± 11.2	50.83 ± 5.5	t(42.51) = −1.89,  = 0.065
Medical ventilation time (hour)	9.63 ± 4.2	10.93 ± 4.3	t(58) = −1.16,  = 0.249
Duration of preoperative hospitalization (day)	4.5 ± 2	5.53 ± 3.2	t(49.2) = −1.46,  = 0.150
Duration of postoperative hospitalization (day)	5.67 ± 1.4	6.03 ± 1.3	t(58) = −1.01,  = 0.315

RB: rhythmic breathing; BMI: body mass index; Chi-square test; independent t-test. ^aIncluding: hypertension, hyperlipidemia.