Results of a long-term training program after acute myocardial infarction.
BACKGROUND
It is not well known what should be the benefits of a prolonged physical rehabilitation program after an acute myocardial infarction.


METHODS
Our study is an open, randomized comparison of a long-term versus a standard rehabilitation program. Sixty-seven patients with acute myocardial infarction were included in an outpatient physical rehabilitation program of 6-8 weeks. Of these, 22 randomly selected patients continued the program until the 36th month (Group A). Twenty-five of the others were rechecked after 36 months, and represented the controls (Group B). For both groups, at the end of this period, a cycloergometer exercise test evaluated the exercise capacity of subjects and an echocardiogram was performed to determine left ventricular systolic and diastolic function.


RESULTS
The maximal exercise capacity increased from 147 +/- 13.8 W to 178 +/- 16.4 W in Group A (p < 0.01), but it decreased from 144 +/- 13.2 to 132 +/- 12.8 W in group B. Functional aerobic impairment decreased from 29 +/- 2.7% to 22 +/- 2.1% in Group A, but it increased from 26 +/- 2.5% to 37 +/- 3.8% in Group B. The ejection fraction and diastolic function parameters were not significantly modified during the 36 months, for both groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Long-term physical rehabilitation is useful in patients after an acute myocardial infarction to increase effort capacity, but left ventricular performance is not significantly changed.
Zdrenghea
D
D
Rehabilitation Clinical Hospital--Cardiology Department, Cluj-Napoca, Romania. dzdrenghea@hotmail.com
Predescu
D
D
Ducasz
E
E
Ober
M C
MC
Ilea
Maria
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003971:Diastole; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D017079:Exercise Tolerance; D005260:Female; D006334:Heart Function Tests; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D013318:Stroke Volume; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left