title: The cardiac model of rehabilitation for reducing cardiovascular risk factors post transient ischaemic attack and stroke: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of a standard National Health Service cardiac rehabilitation programme on risk factor reduction for patients after a minor stroke and transient ischaemic attack.
  
  
  METHODS
  Single-blind randomized controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cardiac rehabilitation classes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  All participants received standard care. In addition, the intervention group undertook an eight-week cardiac rehabilitation programme consisting of weekly exercise and education classes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cardiovascular disease risk score; lipid profiles; resting blood pressure; C-reactive protein (measured with a high sensitive assay) and fibrinogen levels; blood glucose; obesity; physical activity levels; subjective health status (SF-36); Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Group comparison with independent t-tests showed a significantly greater improvement in the cardiovascular disease risk score for participants in the intervention group compared to standard care (intervention 25.7 ± 22.8 to 23.15 ± 18.3, control 25.03 ± 15.4 to 27.12 ± 16.1, t = -1.81, P < 0.05). There were also significant improvements for the intervention group in activity levels (intervention 9.41 ± 7.7 to 8.08 ± 5.7, control 14.50 ± 5.5 to 9.83 ± 6.6, t = -2.00, P < 0.05) and the SF-36 domains of physical functioning (intervention 70 ± 24.6 to 75.4 ± 11.1, control 90.00 ± 12.4 to 83.16 ± 17.3, t = -2.72, P < 0.05) and mental health (intervention 84 ± 40 to 92 ± 40, control 88.00 ± 60 to 84 ± 44, z = -2.06, P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that standard cardiac rehabilitation programmes are a feasible and effective means of reducing the risk of future cardiovascular events for patients after minor stroke and transient ischaemic attack.
authors.affiliation: 1Solent NHS Trust, Southampton, UK.
authors.forename: Hayden
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kirk
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kersten
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Crawford
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Keens
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ashburn
authors.forename: Joy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Conway
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D017079:Exercise Tolerance; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000150:complications / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008019:Life Style; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D013222:State Medicine; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D006113:United Kingdom
keywords: Stroke; cardiac rehabilitation; cardiovascular risk; group exercises; lifestyle change