title: Effects of a comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation program on quality of life in patients with coronary artery disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Health-related quality of life is an important factor to evaluate effects of different interventions in cardiovascular diseases. Improvement in quality of life (QOL) is an important goal for individuals participating in cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programs. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of comprehensive CR on QOL in patients with cardiovascular disease (CAD).
  
  
  METHODS
  In this quasi-experimental before-after study, the files of 100 patients with CAD who were referred to rehabilitation department of Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Institute were studied using a consecutive sampling method. Data collection was performed from the patient's files including their demographics, ejection fraction, functional capacity, and resting heart rate. All patients participated in a comprehensive CR program and completed the validated questionnaire Short-Form 36 Health Status Survey (SF-36), before and after CR program. Data was analyzed based on sex and age groups (≥ 65 and < 65 years) using independent t-test and paired t-test (to compare variables between groups and before and after CR, respectively).
  
  
  RESULTS
  After CR, scores of all physical domains of the SF-36 including physical function (PF), physical limitation (PL), body pain (BP) and vitality (V) in addition to general health (GH) were significantly improved in all patients (P < 0.05) compared to the baseline. Patients with age < 65 years had greater improvements in mental health (MH) and social function (SF) than patients with age ≥ 65 years (P < 0.05). Women had greater improvement in PF, V and MH compared to men (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicated that CR can improve QOL in cardiac patients especially in women. Elderly patients get benefit the same as other patients in physical domains.
authors.affiliation: MSc Student, Department of Physiotherapy, School of Rehabilitation, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences AND Physiotherapist of Shariati Hospital, Treatment Management of Isfahan Social Security Organization, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Marzieh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saeidi
authors.forename: Samaneh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mostafavi
authors.forename: Hosein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Heidari
authors.forename: Sepehr
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Masoudi
keywords: Cardiac Rehabilitation; Cardiovascular Diseases; Quality of Life