Domestic activities after myocardial infarction. Their impact is underestimated.
BACKGROUND
Although aptitude for resumption of work is usually evaluated after myocardial infarction, the return home often entails significant daily obligations whose cardiovascular implications are poorly described and may well be underestimated.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the consequences of domestic activities on blood pressure and heart rate in patients with recent myocardial infarction


METHODS
This was an observational study.


METHODS
Inpatients, at the end of a three week period of cardiovascular rehabilitation.


METHODS
Patients with recent myocardial infarction.


METHODS
We studied patients who had benefited from a three-week period of cardiovascular rehabilitation after a myocardial infarction, all treated with beta-blockers. At the end of the rehabilitation period, patients were submitted to a standardized exercise test with measurement of V.O2. They also carried out, on a separate day, four standardized domestic tasks in a random order along with an automated measurement of blood pressure and heart rate.


RESULTS
We included 16 men and 11 women, aged 35 to 74 years. Vacuum cleaning led to a much greater increase in the product of heart rate and systolic blood pressure (DP) than did window cleaning, bathroom cleaning or ironing. It also led to an increase in heart rate to 70-90% of maximum heart rate during the exercise test and 47-65% of the maximal DP on the exercise test. Although the women were more accustomed to these tasks than the men, they did not appear to benefit from any training effect. The average level of DP observed in some patients during domestic tasks was comparable to that of a maximum exercise test indicating that they were not adequately prepared for a return to household activities.


CONCLUSIONS
Domestic tasks should not be underestimated as they can lead to a significant increase in DP. They tend not to be taken into account in the rehabilitation of patients after a myocardial infarction.


CONCLUSIONS
The traditional methods of rehabilitation are not well adapted for resumption of domestic life, especially for women who are most involved in these activities. We recommend an individual approach involving performance of real life tasks taking account of the personality of the patients, their lifestyle and home environment.
Gosse
S
S
Department of Cardiology, Saint André Hospital, Bordeaux, France.
Fischbach
M
M
Gosse
P
P
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006796:Household Work; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D019370:Observation; D010101:Oxygen Consumption