Short versus prolonged bed rest after uncomplicated acute myocardial infarction: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
BACKGROUND
Recently updated guidelines by the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association and the European Society of Cardiology recommend at least 12 hours bed rest in patients with uncomplicated myocardial infarction.


METHODS
We performed a systematic literature review and meta-analysis of randomized and quasi-randomized controlled trials comparing short versus prolonged bed rest in patients with uncomplicated acute myocardial infarction.


RESULTS
We found 15 trials with 1332 patients assigned to a short period of bed rest (range 2 to 12 days) and 1326 patients assigned to prolonged bed rest (range 5 to 28 days). Generally, the studies were outdated and seemed to be of poor methodologic reporting quality. There was no evidence that shorter bed rest was more harmful than longer bed rest in terms of death, reinfarction, post-infarction angina, or thromboembolic events.


CONCLUSIONS
We concluded that bed rest ranging from 2 to 12 days seems to be as safe as longer periods of bed rest.
Herkner
Harald
H
Department of Emergency Medicine, Vienna General Hospital, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.
Thoennissen
Jana
J
Nikfardjam
Mariam
M
Koreny
Maria
M
Laggner
Anton N
AN
Müllner
Marcus
M
D000368:Aged; D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000517:prevention & control; D001510:Bed Rest; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000401:mortality / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000628:therapy*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012008:Recurrence; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000517:prevention & control; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome