Importance of exercise training session duration in the rehabilitation of coronary artery disease patients.
BACKGROUND
In cardiac rehabilitation, 40-60-min exercise training sessions are advised. However, because of the increasing coronary artery disease (CAD) prevalence and higher workload for cardiac rehabilitation centres, it remains unclear whether 40-min exercise training sessions are equally effective as 60-min exercise training sessions.


METHODS
Prospective randomized clinical trial.


METHODS
One hundred and thirty-four CAD patients were included in a 7-week rehabilitation programme. All patients exercised 3 days per week, at a heart rate corresponding to 65% of baseline peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak). Patients were randomized in two groups: 40 versus 60-min exercise training sessions. Changes of body anthropometrics, resting haemodynamics, exercise capacity and ventilatory threshold, blood plasma lipid profile and C-reactive protein level were assessed.


RESULTS
As a result of rehabilitation, exercise capacity, ventilatory threshold, and blood plasma lipid profile improved significantly in the total population (P<0.05), without differences between subgroups (P>0.05). Body weight and waist circumference decreased significantly in total population (P<0.01), but with a greater magnitude in the 40 versus 60-min exercise session group (P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
In the early rehabilitation of CAD patients, 40-min exercise training sessions seem to be at least as effective for improving body anthropometrics, blood plasma lipid profile and exercise capacity, as compared with 60-min exercise training sessions.
Hansen
Dominique
D
Virga Jesse Hospital, Rehabilitation and Health Centre, Hasselt, Belgium.
Dendale
Paul
P
Berger
Jan
J
Onkelinx
Steven
S
Reyckers
Ilse
I
Hermans
Annelies
A
Vaes
Johan
J
Reenaers
Veerle
V
Meeusen
Romain
R
D000368:Aged; D000886:Anthropometry; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D017079:Exercise Tolerance; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D011659:Pulmonary Gas Exchange; D012119:Respiration
D008055:Lipids; D002097:C-Reactive Protein