Intensive home-based exercise training in cardiac rehabilitation increases exercise capacity and heart rate variability.

BACKGROUND: Reduced heart rate variability (HRV) is a risk factor for cardiac death. Animal studies have shown increased HRV and reduced mortality after physical training. We evaluated the change in exercise capacity and HRV in cardiac rehabilitation patients, randomised to routine or home-based intensive training. The design was prospective, stratified randomisation with pre-specified subgroup analysis. METHODS: Maximal bicycle exercise test and 24-h Holter were performed 1 (baseline), 4 and 12 months after myocardial infarction (MI) or coronary artery by-pass surgery (CABG). Patients were randomised to physical training either two (N) or six (I) times per week for 3 months Sixty-two patients (43 MI and 19 CABG patients) were evaluated. RESULTS: Exercise capacity increased significantly more after 3 months of training in group I (mean (S.E.)); 29.0 (3.4) vs. 7.2 (2.6) watts, P<0.001). One year later the difference in exercise capacity remained (26.5 (3.3) vs. 11.8 (3.8) watts, P<0.001). Global HRV measurements SDNN and SDANN increased significantly more in group I after training (17.1 (5.6) vs. 1.7 (3.7) and 16.2 (4.9) vs. 2.8 (3.1) ms, P<0.05) and 1 year later the differences were still significant. Subgroup analysis showed more pronounced HRV response in CABG than MI patients. CONCLUSION: Intensive exercise training in cardiac rehabilitation increases exercise capacity and global HRV, which could be of prognostic significance.     

Additional physical activity during cardiac rehabilitation leads to an improved heart rate recovery in male patients after coronary artery bypass grafting.

BACKGROUND: Heart rate recovery (HRR) after exercise, which is thought to be a marker of vagal activity, has been reported to improve after cardiac rehabilitation (CR) with exercise in patients with coronary heart disease. The aim of this study was to determine whether or not additional physical activity outside the CR program, would accelerate improvement of the HRR in male patients after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). METHODS AND RESULTS: Twenty male patients were enrolled in a supervised CR program at 2 weeks after CABG, and divided into an active group (walking >or=5,434 steps/day) or a less-active group. The time constant of HRR immediately measured after pedaling exercise was assessed at baseline and after the 2-week CR program. After completion of the CR program, the time constant of HRR improved from 439.7+/-177 s to 288.6+/-97.4 s in the active group (p<0.01), but no changes were observed in the less-active group. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that additional physical activity during a CR program may lead to an improved HRR in patients after CABG. Therefore, post-CABG patients should increase their level of physical activity in addition to that in the CR to improve their cardiac autonomic control.     

Effect of exercise training on heart rate variability in patients with new-onset left ventricular dysfunction after myocardial infarction

BACKGROUND: Cardiac rehabilitation with exercise training alters sympathovagal control of heart rate variability (HRV) toward parasympathetic dominance in patients after acute myocardial infarction (MI). However, its effects on HRV in patients after MI with new-onset left ventricular dysfunction are yet unknown. We aimed to investigate the effects of 8 weeks of supervised, high-intensity exercise training on time- and frequency-domain measures of HRV in this selected patient population. METHODS AND RESULTS: Twenty-five men with an acute MI and a low ejection fraction were randomly assigned to enter or not to enter a training program in a regional rehabilitation center. HRV was evaluated before and after 1 and 2 months of training and at 12 months. Maximal exercise testing with respiratory gas exchange was performed at baseline and after training. Resting heart rate decreased (P <. 01) and the percentage of R-R intervals differing >50 ms from the preceding one (pNN50) increased (P <.05) after training. The standard deviation of R-R intervals (SDRR) tended to increase, but frequency-domain indexes remained unchanged. There was a significant decrease in SDRR (P <.05) and high-frequency power (P <.01) at 12 months in untrained patients. Exercise time increased by 38% and maximal oxygen uptake increased by 29% in the training group (P <. 01). CONCLUSIONS: Despite beneficial effects on clinical variables, exercise training did not markedly alter HRV indexes. A significant decrease in SDRR and high-frequency power in the control group suggests an ongoing process of sympathovagal imbalance in favor of sympathetic dominance in untrained patients after MI with new-onset left ventricular dysfunction.     

脑利钠肽和肌钙蛋白Ⅰ水平预测中青年急性心肌梗死患者远期运动耐量的研究

目的研究中青年前壁急性心肌梗死患者急性期脑利钠肽(BNP)和肌钙蛋白I(TnI)水平与远期运动耐量的相关性。方法临床确诊的32例中青年前壁急性心肌梗死患者,根据左心室射血分数(LVEF)分为两组(LVEF≥50%组20例,LVEF<50%组12例),分别测定3 d、2周和6个月的BNP和TnI值,6 min步行试验评价心肌梗死后6个月的运动耐量。对BNP与TnI、BNP与运动耐量、TnI与运动耐量分别进行相关性分析,并以运动耐量作因变量,BNP和TnI做自变量进行回归分析。结果 (1)LVEF≥50%与<50%组心肌梗死后3 d、2周和6个月BNP水平差异均有统计学意义(P<0.01),而在3 d和6个月的时段,TnI在LVEF≥50%和LVEF<50%两组间差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。6个月两组的6 min步行距离差异有统计学意义(P<0.01)。(2)在LVEF≥50%组和LVEF<50%组,急性期BNP分别与TnI和运动试验结果相关,而TnI与运动试验没有明显相关性。全部患者TnI与运动耐量的相关系数为-0.556(P<0.01)。(3)无论使用LVEF分组与否,逐步回归分析显示,只有急性期BNP可以与6个月6 min步行距离进行回归,全部患者BNP逐步回归系数为0.672(P<0.01)。结论前壁心肌梗死患者急性期血BNP和TnI与运动耐量有一定相关性。但BNP比TnI对运动耐量有更好的独立预测作用。     

冠脉重建术后患者康复运动对ET—l、NO和CGRP的影响

目的：观察康复运动治疗对冠心病患者冠脉重建术后内皮素(ET-1)、一氧化氮(NO)及降钙素基因相关肽(CGRP)水平的影响，以进一步探讨康复运动治疗对冠心病患者内皮功能的作用。方法：选择56例经皮冠状动脉腔内成形术(PTCA)，10例冠脉搭桥术(CABG)后患者，按随机原则此66例患者被分配入康复运动治疗组和常规治疗组，每组33例。两组临床特征无统计学差异，有可比性。两组患者均给予相同的常规药物治疗，康复运动治疗组还接受12周康复运动治疗。观察疗程前后两组ET-1、NO及CGRP基因相关肽水平的变化。结果：康复运动治疗组12周疗程前、后ET-1、NO及CGRP水平均有显著性差异(P＜0.05)。治疗后康复运动组与常规治疗组的ET-1、NO、CGRP水平均有显著性差异(P＜0．05)。而常规治疗组疗程前、后ET-1、NO、CGRP水平均无显著性差异(P＞0．05)。结论：康复运动治疗可以改善冠心病冠脉重建术后患者的血管内皮功能。     

冠脉重建术后患者康复运动对ET-1、NO和CGRP的影响

目的:观察康复运动治疗对冠心病患者冠脉重建术后内皮素(ET-1)、一氧化氮(NO)及降钙索基因相关肽(CGRP)水平的影响,以进一步探讨康复运动治疗对冠心病患者内皮功能的作用。方法:选择56例经皮冠状动脉腔内成形术(PTCA),10例冠脉搭桥术(CABG)后患者,按随机原则此66例患者被分配入康复运动治疗组和常规治疗组,每组33例。两组临床特征无统计学差异,有可比性。两组患者均给予相同的常规药物治疗,康复运动治疗组还接受12周康复运动治疗。观察疗程前后两组ET-1、NO及CGRP水平的变化。结果:康复运动治疗组12周疗程前、后ET-1、NO及CGRP水平均有显著性差异(P<0.05)。治疗后康复运动组与常规治疗组的ET-1、NO、CGRP水平均有显著性差异(P<0.05)。而常规治疗组疗程前、后ET-1、NO、CGRP水平均无显著性差异(P>0.05)。结论:康复运动治疗可以改善冠心病冠脉重建术后患者的血管内皮功能。     

Timeline for peak improvements during 52 weeks of outpatient cardiac rehabilitation

PURPOSE: Cardiac rehabilitation is an integral component of comprehensive care for patients with coronary heart disease. Although the typical programmatic delivery of outpatient cardiac rehabilitation services often involves 36 sessions over 12 weeks, that format is based more on historical practice than on outcome data. This study aimed to determine the point at which during 52 weeks of outpatient cardiac rehabilitation, patients achieved peak values for selected outcomes, and whether the number of supervised exercise sessions had any effect on these outcomes. METHODS: In this study, 623 male patients with coronary heart disease admitted to an outpatient cardiac rehabilitation program were randomized to one of two 52-week program formats. One format (CR1) used one supervised exercise session per week over 52 weeks, and the second format (CR2) used weekly supervised sessions for 26 weeks followed by one supervised session per month for the remaining 26 weeks. Both formats used four unsupervised, documented exercise sessions per week. Selected clinical, physiologic, and psychological variables were measured at baseline, then at 4, 12, 26, 38, and 52 weeks. The program costs for both the CR1 and CR2 formats were calculated from known expenses. RESULTS: Because there were no significant intercohort differences between CR1 and CR2 and no significant interaction (time x group), data from the two cohorts were pooled for statistical analysis. Peak oxygen intake (VO(2peak)) significantly increased by 4.4 mL/kg per minute at 38 weeks, and the greatest percentage of patients (30.1%) also achieved their highest VO(2peak) at this time. The largest gain in Medical Outcomes Survey Short Form 36 role physical scores was from baseline to 38 weeks (52.4 versus 85.2), and the highest percentage of patients (72%) with role physical scores in the excellent category occurred at 38 weeks. Clinical depression at baseline (Beck Depression Inventory score > 10) had no significant effect on the dropout rate or the gain in VO(2peak) with exercise training. Program costs for these alternative formats of service were similar to the cost for a standard program format of 36 sessions. CONCLUSIONS: Patients achieved their highest functional capacity after 38 weeks of outpatient cardiac rehabilitation using a program format of only 29 to 38 supervised exercise sessions. The results of this study show that an outpatient cardiac rehabilitation program combining supervised with unsupervised exercise sessions and continuing for 38 weeks results in the greatest improvement in these selected outcomes.     

Heart rate variability decreased by coronary artery surgery has no prognostic value.

BACKGROUND: Decreased heart rate variability (HRV) may predict cardiac death after myocardial infarction (MI). Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) strongly decreases HRV, but improves survival. The aim of the study was to determine the prognostic value of HRV decreased by coronary surgery. DESIGN AND METHODS: Four-year follow-up was performed in 175 consecutive patients with HRV decreased by CABG (51) or MI (124). Mortality and secondary events rate were analysed. Decreased HRV, defined by the standard deviation of mean RR interval (SDNN) < 100 ms, was detected by a routine 24-h Holter electrocardiogram at admission to stationary rehabilitation 3 weeks to 3 months after acute MI or CABG. Two groups did not differ except by age; CABG patients were younger (56 versus 64 years, P<0.01), but this did not influence differences in survival (NS). RESULTS: HRV was lower among CABG patients than among MI patients (SDNN=66 +/- 20 ms versus 77 +/- 14 ms; P<0.001), but cumulative survival and event-free survival were much better in the CABG group than in the MI group. During a 46 +/- 20 months follow-up, there were 10% new events in the CABG and 43% in the MI group (P<0.001). Mortality was 8% in the CABG and 33% in the MI group (log-rank=3.6; P<0.001). Unlike in the MI group, HRV was not different between survivors and non-survivors in the CABG group. CONCLUSIONS: In contrast to the strong prognostic potential of HRV in patients with MI, decreased HRV has no prognostic significance in patients who have undergone CABG surgery.     

Effect of cardiac rehabilitation on muscle mass,muscle strength,and exercise tolerance in diabetic patients after coronary artery bypass grafting

BackgroundThe effects of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) on muscle mass, muscle strength, and exercise tolerance in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) who received CR after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) have not been fully elucidated.MethodsWe enrolled 78 consecutive patients who completed a supervised CR for 6 months after CABG (DM group, n = 37; non-DM group, n = 41). We measured mid-upper arm muscle area (MAMA), handgrip power (HGP), muscle strength of the knee extensor (Ext) and flexor (Flex), and exercise tolerance at the beginning and end of CR.ResultsNo significant differences in confounding factors, including age, gender, ejection fraction, or number of CR sessions, were observed between the two groups. At the beginning of CR, the levels of Ext muscle strength and peak VO₂ were significantly lower in the DM group than in the non-DM group. At the end of CR, significant improvement in the levels of muscle strength, HGP, and exercise tolerance was observed in both groups. However, the levels of Ext muscle strength, HGP, peak VO₂, thigh circumference, and MAMA were significantly lower in the DM group than in the non-DM group. In addition, no significant improvement in thigh circumference and MAMA was observed in the DM group. At the end of CR, the levels of thigh circumference and MAMA correlated with Ext and Flex muscle strength as well as with HGP. Percent changes in the levels of Ext muscle strength were significantly correlated with those of MAMA and hemoglobin A1c.ConclusionsThese data suggest that improvement in muscle strength may be influenced by changes in muscle mass and high glucose levels in DM patients undergoing CR after CABG. A CR program, including muscle mass intervention and blood glucose control, may improve deterioration in exercise tolerance in DM patients after CABG.     

Early short-term intensive cardiac rehabilitation induces positive results as long as one year after the acute coronary event: a prospective one-year controlled study

AIMS: The one-year effects of early and short-term intensive cardiac rehabilitation programmes in patients after acute myocardial infarction or coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) are not well established. METHODS AND RESULTS: One to four weeks after hospital discharge for acute myocardial infarction (n=55) or CABG (n=54), 109 patients were included in a multidisciplinary ambulatory cardiac rehabilitation programme, lasting 2 to 3 months and including a mean of 33 daily sessions. A complete cardiological assessment of the classical coronary risk factors was performed at entry into the study and again 12 months later, that is 9 to 10 months after the end of the rehabilitation programme. Major effects at one-year follow-up were a high rate of aspirin intake, a low rate of smoking (14% of the patients), a 15% increase in physical capacity, a 7 beats/min decrease in resting heart and a 4 mg/dl increase in the HDL-cholesterol. Body weight increased by 4.9 kg in the patients who stopped smoking; the modest increase in body weight in the other patients reflected a partial weight recovery in the CABG patients. Blood pressure levels also increased at the end of the study but our data in CABG patients and their extrapolation to the post MI patients strongly suggest a progressive return of blood pressure to the pre-acute event levels. In a control group matched for age, sex and type of coronary event, no significant modifications were observed after one year, except for an increase in body weight of 1.7 kg (P < 0.000).CONCLUSIONS: Cardiac rehabilitation which started early after an acute coronary event and regularly followed during 2 to 3 months induced beneficial effects which were still present 9 to 10 months later. Weight gain after smoking cessation was prevalent. The lack of changes in the control group reinforced the benefit of cardiac rehabilitation.     

Differences in sustainability of exercise and health-related quality of life outcomes following home or hospital-based cardiac rehabilitation.

BACKGROUND: Home-based cardiac rehabilitation (CR) has been demonstrated to be as effective as institution-based CR in post-coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) patients in terms of short-term physical and psychosocial outcomes. The sustainability of these effects is less well studied. The aim of this study was to examine the sustainability of observed changes in physical, quality of life (HRQL), and social support (SS) outcomes in patients 12 months after discharge from a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of 6 months of monitored home-based versus supervised hospital-based CR. DESIGN: Two-hundred and twenty-two (n=222) patients were followed-up 12 months after discharge from a RCT of 6 months of monitored 'Home' versus supervised 'Hospital' CR after CABG. METHODS: At discharge from the 6-month RCT, participants who consented to the 12-month follow-up study, were given individualized guidelines for ongoing exercise, and were not contacted for 1 year. The primary outcome was peak oxygen uptake (VO2). Secondary outcomes were: HRQL, SS and habitual physical activity. RESULTS: One hundred and ninety-eight patients (89.2%), 102 'Hospital' and 96 'Home', returned for follow-up 12-months after discharge from CR. Both groups had similar medical and socio-demographic characteristics. Peak VO2 declined in 'Hospital' but was sustained in 'Home' patients 12 months after discharge from CR (P=0.002). Physical HRQL was higher in the 'Home' group at the 12-month follow-up (P<0.01). Mental HRQL showed general, minor deterioration over time in both groups (P=0.019). Twelve months after discharge from CR, physical and mental HRQL remained higher than at entry to CR in both groups. 'Home' patients had higher habitual physical activity scores compared to 'Hospital' patients. CONCLUSIONS: This follow-up study suggests that low-risk patients whose CR is initiated in the home environment may be more likely to sustain positive physical and psychosocial changes over time than patients whose program is initially institution-based.     

Pre-coronary artery bypass graft measures and enrollment in cardiac rehabilitation

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between exercise tolerance, functional status, exercise behavior, and enrollment in cardiac rehabilitation (CR), preoperatively in individuals undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. METHODS: Seventy-eight individuals undergoing CABG were evaluated 1 to 7 days preoperatively using the following measures: 2-minute walk test (2MWT), Duke Activity Status Index (DASI), Cardiac Exercise Self-Efficacy Instrument (CESEI), Stages of Change Questionnaire (SCQ), Short-Form 12 (SF-12), Hospital Anxiety Depression scale, location of residence, and education level. Participants were contacted via telephone 10 to 12 weeks postoperatively to determine if they were referred and enrolled in CR. Participants completed mailed questionnaires for follow-up. In subsequent telephone interviews, individuals who were not enrolled in CR were asked to provide reasons for nonenrollment. RESULTS: Overall enrollment in CR was 46%. No significant differences were found in 2MWT, CESEI, and DASI scores between enrolled and nonenrolled participants. Fifty-seven percent of urban-dwelling participants enrolled in CR compared to 29% of rural-dwelling participants (P < .01). Similarly, 65% of individuals with post-secondary education enrolled in CR compared to 38% of individuals without a post-secondary education (P = .05). The primary reasons for nonenrollment were behavioral intentions toward exercise and CR, accessibility, and healthcare team recommendation. Individuals who enrolled in CR demonstrated a larger postoperative improvement in CESEI score. CONCLUSIONS: Location of residence and education level predicted CR enrollment, whereas preoperative exercise tolerance, functional status, and exercise attitudes did not predict enrollment.     

Long-term effectiveness of an inpatient pulmonary rehabilitation program for elderly COPD patients: comparison between young-elderly and old-elderly groups

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the long-term effects of pulmonary rehabilitation in elderly COPD patients, we monitored patients for 1 year after they completed a 2-week inpatient pulmonary rehabilitation program. We also compared the effects of pulmonary rehabilitation on young-elderly (age 65-74 years) and old-elderly (age 75 years or over) COPD patients. METHODOLOGY: Fifty-nine elderly COPD patients (mean age 72.8 years) were studied. They underwent a comprehensive 2-week inpatient pulmonary rehabilitation program incorporating 10 exercise sessions, each of which included endurance training of the lower extremities, peripheral muscle conditioning training of the upper and lower extremities, and stretching, along with various education sessions. The effects of pulmonary rehabilitation were evaluated at 3, 6, and 12 months after completion of the program. RESULTS: Overall, patient health-related quality of life (HRQoL) as assessed by a QoL scale, and dyspnoea as assessed by an oxygen cost diagram, improved significantly over the 12-month period. Exercise capacity assessed by a 6-min walking distance test (6MWD) was similarly significantly improved. However, there was some fall-off in terms of the distance walked 12 months after pulmonary rehabilitation. The improvements in exercise capacity, dyspnoea, and HRQoL did not differ between the two groups, with the exception that the 6MWD (P < 0.01) and the QoL scale (P < 0.05) at 3 months post-pulmonary rehabilitation were significantly higher in the old-elderly group. CONCLUSIONS: Pulmonary rehabilitation is an effective treatment in terms of improving dyspnoea, exercise capacity and HRQoL in elderly COPD patients, and the benefits are almost comparable for young-elderly and old-elderly patients.     

Importance of exercise training session duration in the rehabilitation of coronary artery disease patients

BACKGROUND: In cardiac rehabilitation, 40-60-min exercise training sessions are advised. However, because of the increasing coronary artery disease (CAD) prevalence and higher workload for cardiac rehabilitation centres, it remains unclear whether 40-min exercise training sessions are equally effective as 60-min exercise training sessions. DESIGN: Prospective randomized clinical trial. METHODS: One hundred and thirty-four CAD patients were included in a 7-week rehabilitation programme. All patients exercised 3 days per week, at a heart rate corresponding to 65% of baseline peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak). Patients were randomized in two groups: 40 versus 60-min exercise training sessions. Changes of body anthropometrics, resting haemodynamics, exercise capacity and ventilatory threshold, blood plasma lipid profile and C-reactive protein level were assessed. RESULTS: As a result of rehabilitation, exercise capacity, ventilatory threshold, and blood plasma lipid profile improved significantly in the total population (P<0.05), without differences between subgroups (P>0.05). Body weight and waist circumference decreased significantly in total population (P<0.01), but with a greater magnitude in the 40 versus 60-min exercise session group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In the early rehabilitation of CAD patients, 40-min exercise training sessions seem to be at least as effective for improving body anthropometrics, blood plasma lipid profile and exercise capacity, as compared with 60-min exercise training sessions.     

Submaximal effort tolerance as a predictor of all-cause mortality in patients undergoing cardiac rehabilitation

BACKGROUND: Submaximal effort tolerance is routinely available during cardiac rehabilitation, but its prognostic value in relation to underlying referral diagnosis is not known. HYPOTHESIS: Treadmill effort capacity during submaximal exercise training predicts all-cause mortality after cardiac rehabilitation. METHODS: We followed 600 consecutive patients (450 men and 150 women, mean age 65 years) who were referred to a 12-week outpatient program of cardiac rehabilitation; 37% had a prior myocardial infarction (MI), 44% had a recent percutaneous intervention (PCI), and 39% had history of coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG). RESULTS: There were 48 deaths during a mean follow-up period of 1603 +/- 822 days. By multivariate Cox analysis, exit MET activity was the most significant predictor of all-cause mortality. In this model, each 1 MET increase in exit submaximal effort tolerance was associated with a 34% decrease in mortality (hazard ratio [HR] 0.66, 95% confidence interval 0.56-0.77) alone and 28% decrease after adjustment for age (HR = 0.72, confidence interval 0.60-0.85). Enty MET level also had predictive value. Subgroup analysis revealed that the predictive value of exit METs was limited to patients after recent CABG and with MI. None of the variables predicted death after PCI, in whom mortality was significantly lower than in the other groups. CONCLUSIONS: Submaximal effort tolerance at completion of cardiac rehabilitation, and also at entry, is a strong and age-independent predictor of mortality in patients who have had either recent CABG or MI without intervention, but not in patients after recent PCI.     

An observational study substantiating the statistical significance of cardiopulmonary exercise with laboratory tests during the acute and subacute phases of center and home-based cardiac rehabilitation

Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) can improve clinical indicators in patients with cardiovascular diseases. The literature reports a 20% reduction in all-cause mortality and a 27% reduction in heart-disease mortality following CR. Although its clinical efficacy has been established, there is uncertainty whether center-based (CBCR) is more effective than home-based (HBCR) programs in acute and subacute phases. We aimed to verify significant differences in their effectiveness for the improvement of cardiopulmonary function by analyzing cardiopulmonary exercise (CPX) with laboratory tests following both CR programs.A single-center cohort study of 37 patients, recently diagnosed with underlying cardiovascular diseases, underwent CBCR(18) and HBCR(19). CBCR group performed a supervised exercise regimen at the CR center, for 1 hour, 2 to 3 days a week, for a total of 12 to18 weeks. HBCR group completed a self-monitored exercise program at home under the same guidelines as CBCR. Participants were evaluated by CPX with laboratory tests at 1- and 6-month, following the respective programs.There was no statistical significance in clinical characteristics and laboratory findings. Pre–post treatment comparison showed significant improvement in VO2/kg, minute ventilation/carbon dioxide production slope, breathing reserve, tidal volume (VT), heart rate recovery, oxygen consumption per heart rate, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), LDL/HDL ratio, total cholesterol, ejection fraction (EF) (P < .05). CBCR approach showed greater improvement with significance in VO2/kg, metabolic equivalents, and EF on between groups analysis (P < .05).The time effect of CPX test and laboratory data showed improvement in cardiopulmonary function and serum indicators for both groups. VO2/kg, metabolic equivalents, and EF were among the variables that showed significant differences between groups. In the acute and subacute phases of 1 to 6 months, the CBCR group showed a greater cardiac output improvement than the HBCR group.     

Maintenance after pulmonary rehabilitation in chronic lung disease: a randomized trial

Pulmonary rehabilitation is beneficial for patients with chronic lung disease. However, long-term maintenance has been difficult to achieve after short-term treatment. We evaluated a telephone-based maintenance program after pulmonary rehabilitation in 172 patients with chronic lung disease recruited from pulmonary rehabilitation graduates. Subjects were randomly assigned to a 12-month maintenance intervention with weekly telephone contacts and monthly supervised reinforcement sessions (n = 87) or standard care (n = 85) and followed for 24 months. Except for a slight imbalance between sexes, experimental and control groups were equivalent at baseline and showed similar improvements after rehabilitation. During the 12-month intervention, exercise tolerance (maximum treadmill workload and 6-minute walk distance) and overall health status ratings were better maintained in the experimental group together with a reduction in hospital days. There were no group differences for other measures of pulmonary function, dyspnea, self-efficacy, generic and disease-specific quality of life, and health care use. By 24 months, there were no significant group differences. Patients returned to levels close to but above prerehabilitation measures. We conclude that a maintenance program of weekly telephone calls and monthly supervised sessions produced only modest improvements in the maintenance of benefits after pulmonary rehabilitation.     

Postmyocardial infarction cardiac rehabilitation in low risk patients. Results with a coordinated program of cardiological and primary care

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: To assess the efficacy of cardiac rehabilitation with a mixed primary and cardiological care program in patients with low-risk myocardial infarction. PATIENTS AND METHOD: The participants in this 12-month prospective study were 153 consecutive patients with low-risk myocardial infarction (MI) referred to their primary care center for follow-up care. Of these patients, 113 were referred to a mixed primary and specialized care program that included physical exercise, cardiovascular risk control, an antismoking program, health education talks and psychological evaluation. The other 40 patients served as controls. We analyzed the results after 3 months and 1 year of follow-up. RESULTS: There were no differences between the two groups at baseline. After 1 year, improvements were seen in smoking habit (4.6% vs 15.6%; P<.05) and body mass index (26 [2] vs 29 [2]; P<.05). Dyslipidemia, glucose and blood pressure were similar in both groups after follow-up. Greater improvements in the group of patients who participated in the program were seen after 1 year in quality of life (78 [2] vs 91 [2]; P<.05), exercise capacity (10.3 [2] vs 8.4 [3]; P<.01) and return to active employment (84.6% vs 53.3%; P<.05). CONCLUSIONS: After 1 year of follow-up, the cardiac rehabilitation program coordinated by cardiological and primary care services for low-risk post-MI patients improved quality of life, and increased exercise tolerance, active employment, and the number of participants who quit smoking. The mixed program also reduced body mass index. These results suggest the need for similar programs.     

Regular walking and long-term maintenance of outcomes after pulmonary rehabilitation

BACKGROUND: Empirical evidence supports the role of exercise as part of pulmonary rehabilitation in improving symptoms of breathlessness (dyspnea), health-related quality of life, and exercise tolerance among patients with chronic lung disease. However, many studies show that these initial benefits tend to diminish 12 to 18 months after rehabilitation. Given the importance of exercise (ie, walking) during rehabilitation, we examined whether patient adherence to regular walking enhanced the long-term maintenance of functional benefits gained from an 8-week pulmonary rehabilitation program. METHODS: One hundred twenty-three patients with moderate to severe chronic lung disease completed an 8-week pulmonary rehabilitation program and participated in a 12-month maintenance intervention trial. Measures of weekly walking, lung function, self-efficacy for walking, dyspnea during activities of daily living, exercise capacity (6-minute walk test, 6MW), perceived breathlessness after the 6MW, and health-related quality of life were obtained at postrehabilitation, and at 6, 12, and 24 months after completing pulmonary rehabilitation. Regular walkers were defined as those active on most days or every single day of the week on the average throughout the 24-month period, whereas irregular walkers walked on some days, rarely, or not at all. RESULTS: The effects of the maintenance program on average frequency of walking were nonsignificant, with 44% of the maintenance patients and 38% of the standard care patients classified as regular walkers. There were no significant differences between walking groups on gender, healthcare utilization over the 24-month follow-up period, and postrehabilitation measures of lung function, 6MW distance, perceived breathlessness after 6MW, health-related quality of life, dyspnea, or age. Repeated measures analyses of variance using a 2 x 4 mixed model approach were applied to examine group differences and changes in outcomes over time. Overall, participants decreased in 6MW distance (P <.001), reported increases in perceived breathlessness after the 6MW (P <.05), and decreased in overall health-related quality of life (P <.001) from postrehabilitation to 24 months. Regular walkers reported significantly better health-related quality of life (P <.05) as compared to irregular walkers, averaging across time points. Irregular walkers declined significantly more than regular walkers on measures of shortness of breath during activities of daily living (P <.01) and walking self-efficacy (P <.001) from postrehabilitation to 24 months. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that participation in regular exercise such as walking after completing pulmonary rehabilitation is associated with slower declines in overall health-related quality of life and walking self-efficacy as well as less progression of dyspnea during activities of daily living. Regular exercise after rehabilitation may be protective against increases in dyspnea symptoms and perceived limitations in walking which are both characteristic of progressing chronic lung disease.     

Five-year follow-up findings from a randomized controlled trial of cardiac rehabilitation for heart failure.

BACKGROUND: A follow-up study was carried out on the 5-year status of the surviving patients (n=179 at 6 months) of a 24-week randomized controlled trial comparing cardiac rehabilitation (CR) with heart failure outpatient clinic care (standard care). METHODS: In the original randomized controlled trial, 200 patients (60-89 years, 132 men) with New York Heart Association II/III heart failure confirmed by echocardiography had been randomized (2000-2001). At the 5-year follow-up, the initial trial measures (6-min walk test, Minnesota living with heart failure, EuroQol health-related quality of life, and routine biochemistry) were repeated if the patient was in a satisfactory condition. Data on deaths and admissions were obtained from the medical records department. RESULTS: Over half of the original participants (n=119, 59.5%) were alive at 5 years (mean age 75.2 years), and most (94%) attended the clinic for assessment. A sustained improvement from baseline for both groups in Minnesota living with heart failure, but not in EuroQol was observed, and the majority of the other measures had deteriorated. In contrast to the CR group, the standard care group showed a significant deterioration in walking distance (5 versus 11%; P<0.05). More patients in the CR group were taking regular exercise (71 versus 51%; P<0.05). No significant differences between the groups in health care utilization or survival were observed. CONCLUSION: A 24-week CR programme for patients with stable heart failure showed some long-term benefit at 5 years. Differences in the mean values of most of the functional and quality of life measures were evidently to the advantage of the CR group, which also showed a better exercise profile.