title: Cardiac rehabilitation is associated with an improvement in C-reactive protein levels in both men and women with cardiovascular disease.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: McConnell Heart Health Center, Columbus, Ohio 43214-3425, USA. tcauling@ohiohealth.com
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Caulin-Glaser
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Falko
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hindman
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: La Londe
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Snow
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D008055:Lipids; D002097:C-Reactive Protein