Age-related differences in physiologic and psychosocial outcomes after cardiac rehabilitation.
OBJECTIVE
To examine differences in physiologic and psychosocial outcomes between age groups after an exercise-based supervised-recovery phase II cardiac rehabilitation outpatient program.


METHODS
This is a longitudinal observational study. The study assessed 442 consecutive cardiac patients. Patients were divided into the middle-aged group (<65 yrs, n = 242) and older-age group (> or =65 yrs, n = 200). Peak oxygen uptake, handgrip and knee extensor muscle strength, upper- and lower-body self-efficacy for physical activity, and physical component summary and mental component summary scores as assessed by SF-36 were measured at 1 and 3 mos after the onset of acute myocardial infarction or cardiac surgery and were compared.


RESULTS
All physiologic and psychosocial outcomes increased significantly between months 1 and 3 in both groups. However, increases were greater in the middle-aged vs. older-aged group in peak oxygen uptake (+13.1% vs. +8.7%, P < 0.01), knee extensor muscle strength (+17.6% vs. +13.3%, P = 0.01), lower-body self-efficacy for physical activity (+17.3% vs. +12.7%, P = 0.02), and physical component summary score (+5.4% vs. +2.7%, P = 0.02).


CONCLUSIONS
Age-related differences in various physiologic and psychosocial measures indicated greater improvement from an exercise-based supervised recovery-phase II cardiac rehabilitation outpatient program in middle-aged vs. older-aged patients. Older adults may derive equal mental or emotional benefit from such a cardiac rehabilitation program but do not experience as much improvement in physiologic outcomes as middle-aged adults.
Izawa
Kazuhiro P
KP
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, St. Marianna University School of Medicine Hospital, Kanagawa, Japan.
Watanabe
Satoshi
S
Oka
Koichiro
K
Hiraki
Koji
K
Morio
Yuji
Y
Kasahara
Yusuke
Y
Osada
Naohiko
N
Omiya
Kazuto
K
Iijima
Setsu
S
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D018737:Hand Strength; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D011788:Quality of Life