Improved quality of life with cardiac rehabilitation for post-myocardial infarction patients in Korea.
BACKGROUND
Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) has been used as a primary health outcome in cardiac rehabilitation programs (CRP).


OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to evaluate the effects of an 8-week CRP on HRQOL and exercise capacity in myocardial infarction (MI) patients in Korea.


METHODS
After matching on gender, age, and left ventricular ejection fraction, 60 subjects with a first acute MI were allocated to either a CRP group (n=31) or a Control group (n=29). The 8-week CRP included hospital-based, supervised exercise training (three times per week, average intensity of 65% VO(2peak)) and individual education sessions. The Control group was instructed on a home-based exercise regimen without contact during the 8 weeks. At baseline and 8 weeks, HRQOL was assessed by the Quality of Life Index (QLI)-cardiac version III; exercise capacity by a treadmill test.


RESULTS
After adjusting for education level, the overall QLI, health/functioning and psycho/spiritual scores showed greater increases in the CRP group than the Control group (p=.014, p=.016, and p=.036, respectively). We observed significant improvements in VO(2peak) (p<.0001), anaerobic threshold (p<.0001), and maximal exercise duration (p<.0001) in the CRP group, compared to the Control group.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that the Korean CRP can lead to significant improvements in HRQOL outcomes and exercise capacity.
Choo
Jina
J
Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA. jinachoo@pitt.edu
Burke
Lora E
LE
Pyo Hong
Kyung
K
D000368:Aged; D015308:Anaerobic Threshold; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D005080:Exercise Test; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left