title: Effects of Combined Phase III and Phase II Cardiac Exercise Therapy for Middle-aged Male Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction.
abstract: [Purpose] To investigate the effects of cardiac exercise therapy (CET) on exercise capacity and coronary risk factors (CRFs) of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). [Methods] Patients who participated in an 8-week supervised, hospital-based phase II and 6-month home-based phase III CET with monthly telephone and/or home visits were defined as the exercise group (EG) (n=20), while those who did not receive phase II or phase III CET were defined as the no-exercise group (NEG) (n=10). CRFs were evaluated pre- and post-phase II and eight months after discharge. One and two-way repeated measures ANOVA were used to perform intra- and inter-group comparisons. [Results] Thirty men with AMI aged 49.3 ± 8.3 years were studied. EG increased their exercise capacity (METs) (6.8 ± 1.6 vs.10.0 ± 1.9) after phase II CET and was able to maintain it at 8-month follow-up. Both groups had significantly fewer persons who kept on smoking compared to the first examination. High density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) increased from 38.1 ± 11.0 to 43.7 ± 8.7 mg/dl at follow-up in EG while no significant difference was noted in NEG. [Conclusion] After phase III CET subjects had maintained the therapeutic effects of smoking cessation, and increasing exercise capacity obtained in phase II CET. HDL-C in EG continued to improve during phase III CET.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Tzu Chi University: 701 Zhongyang Rd., Sec 3, Hualien, 97004 Hualien, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chih-Wei
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Tzu-Chi Medical Center, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ji-Hung
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Tzu-Chi Medical Center, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Jen-Che
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.affiliation: Institue of Medical Sciences, Tzu Chi University, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Tsung-Cheng
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Tzu Chi University: 701 Zhongyang Rd., Sec 3, Hualien, 97004 Hualien, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chien-Hui
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Huang
keywords: Acute myocardial infarction; Cardiac exercise therapy; Coronary risk factors