Factors influencing the long-term effects of supervised cardiac rehabilitation on the exercise capacity of patients with acute myocardial infarction.
OBJECTIVE
Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programs can effectively increase exercise capacity after an acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes in exercise capacity at the end of a supervised CR program and to determine the factors influencing exercise capacity 6 months after the end of a supervised CR program.


METHODS
One hundred and four AMI patients who completed an 8-week supervised CR program were included in the study. Those who had an increased exercise capacity at the end of the 8-week supervised CR program were followed for 6 months to determine the possible factors influencing exercise capacity. Student's-t, chi-square, and ANOVA tests were used to make comparisons between groups and among stages of the program.


RESULTS
All participants had a significant increase in exercise capacity and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) at the end of the 8-week supervised CR program. The anaerobic threshold increased from 0.94 +/- 0.19 to 1.11 +/- 0.19 W/kg (p < 0.05) and serum HDL-C increased from 36.0 +/- 8.7 to 41.1 +/- 10.7 mg/dL (p < 0.05). Follow-up results demonstrated that smoking cessation, decrease in body mass index, and participation in leisure time physical activities were positively associated with increased exercise capacity.


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrated that a supervised CR program improves exercise capacity and serum lipid profile in patients after AMI. Status of smoking, body mass index, and leisure time physical activities affect the long-term results of exercise training.
Lee
Chih-Wei
CW
Department of Physical Therapy, Buddhist Tzu Chi College of Technology, 880, Section 2, Jen Kuo Road, Hualien, Taiwan.
Wu
Ying-Tai
YT
Lai
Cha-Po
CP
Wang
Ji-Hung
JH
Hamamoto
Hiromu
H
Kawakubo
Kiyoshi
K
D005080:Exercise Test; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D010807:Physical Endurance
D008055:Lipids