title: Early 4-week cardiac rehabilitation exercise training in elderly patients after heart surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to assess the effects on exercise performance of supplementing a standard cardiac rehabilitation program with additional exercise programming compared to the standard cardiac rehabilitation program alone in elderly patients after heart surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this prospective, randomized controlled trial, 60 patients (32 men and 28 women, mean age 73.1 +/- 4.7 years) completed cardiac rehabilitation (initiated 12.2 +/- 4.9 days postsurgery). Subjects were assigned to either a control group (CG, standard cardiac rehabilitation program [n = 19]), or an intervention group (IG, additional walking [n = 19], or cycle ergometry training [n = 22]). A symptom limited cardiopulmonary exercise test and 6-minute walk test (6MWT) were performed before and after 4 weeks of cardiac rehabilitation. The MacNew questionnaire was used to assess quality of life (QOL).
  
  
  RESULTS
  At baseline, no significant differences for peak oxygen uptake ((.)VO2), maximal power output, or the 6MWT were detected between IG and CG. Global QOL was significantly higher in IG. After 4 weeks of cardiac rehabilitation, patients significantly improved in absolute values of the cardiopulmonary exercise test, 6MWT, and QOL scores. Significant differences between groups were found for peak (.)VO2 (IG: 18.2 +/- 3.1 mL x kg x min vs. CG: 16.5 +/- 2.2 mL x kg x min, P < .05); maximal power output (IG: 72.2 +/- 16 W vs. CG: 60.7 +/- 15 W, P < .05); 6MWT (IG: 454.8 +/- 76.3 m vs. CG: 400.5 +/- 75.5 m, P < .05); and QOL global (IG: 6.5 +/- 0.5 vs. CG: 6.3 +/- 0.6, P < .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The supplementation of additional walking or cycle exercise training to standard cardiac rehabilitation programming compared to standard cardiac rehabilitation alone in elderly patients after heart surgery leads to significantly better exercise tolerance.
authors: Center for Cardiac Rehabilitation, PVA SKA St. Radegund, Graz, Austria.
authors: Barbara
authors: B
authors: Eder
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Hofmann
authors: Serge P
authors: SP
authors: von Duvillard
authors: Dieter
authors: D
authors: Brandt
authors: Jean-Paul
authors: JP
authors: Schmid
authors: Rochus
authors: R
authors: Pokan
authors: Manfred
authors: M
authors: Wonisch
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001642:Bicycling; D013504:Cardiovascular Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016138:Walking