title: Effects of a long-term, community-based cardiac rehabilitation program on middle-aged and elderly cardiac patients.
abstract: The purpose of this retrospective study was to compare the effects of a 2-year, community-based cardiac rehabilitation exercise program on cardiovascular fitness, body fatness, and blood lipids in middle-aged (</=65 years, n=42) and elderly (>65 years, n=40) male cardiac patients. Estimated maximal metabolic equivalents increased in both groups; however, the increase was greater for middle-aged patients (p=0.003). High-density lipoprotein cholesterol level increased significantly after 1 year in both groups, but the change was greater for the middle-aged subjects by Year 2 (p=0.02). The total cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio and serum triglyceride levels decreased in both groups, whereas total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels decreased only in the elderly group (p<0.01). Body fatness did not change in either group. These findings reinforce the importance of referring elderly as well as middle-aged patients to community-based cardiac rehabilitation exercise programs.
authors.affiliation: School of Physical and Health Education, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Sojung
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Naimark
authors.forename: Michelle M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Porter
authors.forename: A Elizabeth
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Ready
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015992:Body Mass Index; D000072038:Cardiac Rehabilitation; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol