Perioperative medicine & outcomes
Measuring patient disability in the peri‐operative period using the WHODAS 2.0 questionnaire: a systematic review
Authors' conclusion
The effect of surgical procedures on postoperative disability as measured by WHODAS 2.0 is influenced by the type of surgery. Orthopaedic surgery may decrease disability, whereas cancer surgery may be associated with persistent increases.
Study context
- Population
- Surgical patients with disability measured by WHODAS 2.0 in the peri-operative period39 studies
- Outcome
- Difference in WHODAS 2.0 summary score before and after surgery (0% no disability to 100% complete disability)
Pooled result
As reported in the abstract
Change in WHODAS 2.0 disability after surgery
Pre-operative disability range
2% to 61%
Disability increase within 3 months of surgery (21 studies)
1% to 17%
Change between 6 and 12 months
0% to −2%
Further pooled results
Orthopaedic surgery (subgroup) · within 3 months
- Pre-operative disability generally high
- > 35%
- Reduction in disability
- 10-37%
Cancer surgery (subgroup, n = 12 studies) · within 3 months
- Pre-operative disability generally lower
- < 20%
- Small increases in disability
- 1-8%
Cardiovascular surgery (subgroup) · 3 months
- Pre-operative disability
- 4% and 17%
- Difference in disability
- −8% to +3%
Reporting heterogeneity
- Thresholds to define disability
- 3
- WHODAS 2.0 endpoints
- 13
- Postoperative time-points
- 8
Original publication
Measuring patient disability in the peri‐operative period using the WHODAS 2.0 questionnaire: a systematic review. Anaesthesia. Published 24 July 2026. doi:10.
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