Cardiac rehabilitation reduces the rate of major adverse cardiac events after percutaneous coronary intervention.
BACKGROUND
Despite multiple publications on effects of rehabilitation in cardiac patients, rehabilitation is not fully known to be of value in post-percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) patients.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the influence of cardiac rehabilitation on the incidence of major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) in post-PCI patients.


METHODS
Retrospectively and nonrandomized 140 post-PCI patients (107 males, mean age 62 (7) years) participated in a 3-month rehabilitation program, starting 2 weeks post-PCI, while 83 post-PCI patients (54 males, mean age 68 (8) years) did not and were all followed up for 15 months. Data on cardiac medication prescription and incidence of MACE (including angina pectoris with or without reintervention, restenosis, myocardial infarction, revascularisation with re-PCI or CABG, and death) were collected. The relationship with cardiovascular risk factors including sex, smoking behaviour, obesity, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, familiar predisposition, and hypercholesterolemia was analysed.


RESULTS
The incidence of total MACE in the rehabilitation group is significantly lower than in the control group (24% vs. 42%, respectively; P<0.005). The incidence of documented restenosis, angina pectoris with resulting reintervention, all revascularisations, and death is significantly lower in the rehabilitation group, compared with the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
The incidence of MACE and restenosis is significantly lower when PCI patients are included in a cardiac rehabilitation program.
Dendale
Paul
P
Rehabilitation and Health Centre, Virga Jesse Hospital, Hasselt, Belgium. paul.dendale@virgajesse.be
Berger
Jan
J
Hansen
Dominique
D
Vaes
Johan
J
Benit
Edouard
E
Weymans
Maria
M
D000368:Aged; D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000534:rehabilitation; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D023903:Coronary Restenosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D015994:Incidence; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D009204:Myocardial Revascularization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D015607:Stents