title: Cardiac rehabilitation in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and coronary disease: a comparative study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Diabetic patients have a 2-4 times higher risk of cardiovascular disease than non-diabetic individuals. The aims of this study are to evaluate the effects of a cardiac rehabilitation program (phase II) in patients with diabetes and coronary disease and to compare the results with regard to control of cardiovascular risk factors and improvement in functional capacity with coronary patients without diabetes.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a prospective study of patients diagnosed with ischemic heart disease referred for a cardiac rehabilitation program between January 2009 and June 2013. The population was divided into two groups: diabetic and non-diabetic. Patients were assessed at the beginning of phase II and three months later and the following parameters were recorded: body mass index, waist circumference, lipid profile, blood glucose and glycated hemoglobin in diabetic patients, blood pressure, smoking, physical activity level (using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire) and functional capacity (on treadmill stress testing).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study population consisted of 682 patients (253 diabetic and 429 non-diabetic). Diabetic patients were significantly older, had a worse cardiovascular risk profile (higher prevalence of overweight, dyslipidemia, hypertension and sedentary lifestyle) and lower functional capacity. At the end of phase II, there was a statistically significant improvement (p<0.05) in all risk factors and functional capacity, which was similar in both groups, except for body mass index, triglycerides and functional capacity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Diabetic patients may benefit from a cardiac rehabilitation program and achieve comparable results to non-diabetic patients.
authors.affiliation: Serviço de Fisiatria, Hospital de Santo António, Centro Hospitalar do Porto, Porto, Portugal. Electronic address: sofiatoste@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Sofia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Toste
authors.affiliation: Serviço de Fisiatria, Hospital de Santo António, Centro Hospitalar do Porto, Porto, Portugal. Electronic address: sofiaviamonte@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Sofia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Viamonte
authors.affiliation: Serviço de Cardiologia, Hospital de Santo António, Centro Hospitalar do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barreira
authors.affiliation: Serviço de Cardiologia, Hospital de Santo António, Centro Hospitalar do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Preza
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.affiliation: Serviço de Cardiologia, Hospital de Santo António, Centro Hospitalar do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lopes Gomes
authors.affiliation: Serviço de Cardiologia, Hospital de Santo António, Centro Hospitalar do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Severo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Torres
mesh_terms: D000072038:Cardiac Rehabilitation; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications*; D003925:Diabetic Angiopathies / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D058065:Diabetic Cardiomyopathies / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: Capacidade funcional; Cardiac rehabilitation; Cardiovascular risk factors; Diabetes mellitus; Doença cardíaca isquémica; Fatores de risco cardiovascular; Functional capacity; Ischemic heart disease; Reabilitação cardíaca