[Postmyocardial infarction cardiac rehabilitation in low risk patients. Results with a coordinated program of cardiological and primary care].
OBJECTIVE
To assess the efficacy of cardiac rehabilitation with a mixed primary and cardiological care program in patients with low-risk myocardial infarction.


METHODS
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.
Espinosa Caliani
Salvador
S
Servicio de Cardiología. Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Victoria. Málaga. Spain.
Bravo Navas
José C
JC
Gómez-Doblas
Juan J
JJ
Collantes Rivera
Ricardo
R
González Jiménez
Belén
B
Martínez Lao
Matilde
M
de Teresa Galván
Eduardo
E
D002309:Cardiology / Q000379:methods; D015897:Comorbidity; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012046:Rehabilitation / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome