Cardiac rehabilitation is associated with an improvement in C-reactive protein levels in both men and women with cardiovascular disease.
OBJECTIVE
Inflammation is involved in the development of atherosclerotic plaque. The most studied indicator of inflammation in coronary heart diseases (CHD) is C-reactive protein (CRP) which has prognostic significance in those with CHD. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of participation in cardiac rehabilitation (CR) on this marker of vascular inflammation, CRP.


METHODS
We analyzed CRP levels in 172 patients with CHD who participated in a CR program.


RESULTS
Men and women in CR demonstrated significant improvement in body mass index (-0.35, P = .002), exercise capacity (METs 1.8, P < .0001), HDL-C (1.8, P = .003), and CRP (-3.1, P = .003). The improvement in CRP was not significantly different based on age or the presence of metabolic syndrome.


CONCLUSIONS
Participation in CR was associated with a marked improvement of cardiac risk factors and appears to independently decrease the level of CRP regardless of gender, age, or presence of metabolic syndrome.
Caulin-Glaser
Teresa
T
McConnell Heart Health Center, Columbus, Ohio 43214-3425, USA. tcauling@ohiohealth.com
Falko
James
J
Hindman
Lisa
L
La Londe
Michelle
M
Snow
Richard
R
D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D017079:Exercise Tolerance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D001786:Blood Glucose; D008055:Lipids; D002097:C-Reactive Protein