Age and Gender Related Trends in Body Composition, Lipids, and Exercise Capacity During Cardiac Rehabilitation.
Age (40s, 50s, 60s, and 70s) and gender (125 females; 456 males) related trends for peak exercise capacity VO2peak, body composition, and lipids were reviewed for 581 cardiac rehabilitation patients. Groups were equivalent with regard to diagnoses, medications, and risk factors. Peak exercise capacity decreased with increasing age but the percentage improvement attributable to cardiac rehabilitation was similar across each age group (mean of 28.0%). The 70s group had the lowest weights (73.4 kg), similar %fat (31.0%), and the lowest LBM (50.4 kg). They also had lower triglyceride values (191 mg/dL), but the greatest degree of improvement (-23.3%). The percentage improvement for body composition and lipids was similar for the 70s, 60s, and 50s while the 40s group showed no change in weight, %fat, or LBM. Women had lower peak exercise capacities than men but similar relative improvements (26.6% and 28.8%, respectively) as a result of cardiac rehabilitation. Men had greater body weights (85.5 vs. 73.5 kg) and LBM (59.9 vs. 46.9 kg) while women had greater %fat (35.4% vs. 29.3%). Women had a greater percentage weight loss (-1.2% vs. 0.5%) but men had a greater increase in LBM (0.7% vs. 0.4%). Females tended to have higher cholesterol (220 vs. 203 mg/dL) and lower triglycerides (196 vs. 223 mg/dL) but had greater relative improvements in both when compared to men (-4.8% vs. -1.6%; -12.9% vs. -8.2%, respectively). Cardiac rehabilitation has favorable outcomes with regard to peak exercise capacity, body composition, and lipids, across each age group regardless of gender. There is a need for greater emphasis on body composition improvement for females (particularly decreases in %fat and increases in LBM), and lipid reduction (particularly in the younger age groups).
McConnell
Timothy R.
TR
Department of Cardiology, Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, PA.
Laubach
Charles A.
CA
Szmedra
Leon
L