title: High and low contact frequency cardiac rehabilitation programmes elicit similar improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness and cardiovascular risk factors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is a proven intervention that substantially improves physical health and decreases death and disability following a cardiovascular event. Traditional CR typically involves 36 on-site exercise sessions spanning a 12-week period. To date, the optimal dose of CR has yet to be determined. This study compared a high contact frequency CR programme (HCF, 34 on-site sessions) with a low contact frequency CR programme (LCF, eight on-site sessions) of equal duration (4 months).
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 961 low-risk cardiac patients (RARE score <4) self-selected either a HCF (n = 469) or LCF (n = 492) CR programme. Cardiorespiratory fitness and cardiovascular risk factors were measured on admission and discharge.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Similar proportions of patients completed HCF (n = 346) and LCF (n = 351) (p = 0.398). Patients who were less fit (<8 METs) were more likely to drop out of the LCF group, while younger patients (<60 years) were more likely to drop out of the HCF group. Both groups experienced similar reductions in weight (-2.3 vs. -2.4 kg; p = 0.779) and improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness (+1.5 vs. +1.4 METs; p = 0.418).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients in the LCF programme achieved equivalent results to those in the HCF programme. Certain subgroups of patients, however, may benefit from participation in a HCF programme, including those patients who are predisposed to prematurely discontinuing the programme and those patients who would benefit from increased monitoring. The LCF model can be employed as an alternative option to widen access and participation for patients who are unable to attend HCF programmes due to distance or time limitations.
authors.affiliation: Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada stephenlahaye@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Stephen A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: LaHaye
authors.affiliation: Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Shawn P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Lacombe
authors.affiliation: Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Sahil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Koppikar
authors.affiliation: Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Grace
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lun
authors.affiliation: Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Trisha L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Parsons
authors.affiliation: Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hopkins-Rosseel
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002319:Cardiovascular System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D017079:Exercise Tolerance; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010352:Patient Dropouts; D018579:Patient Selection; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020127:Recovery of Function; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Cardiac rehabilitation; RARE score; cardiorespiratory fitness; cardiovascular risk factors; coronary artery disease; exercise; frequency; myocardial infarction; on-site