title: Physiological and health-related quality of life outcomes following cardiac rehabilitation after cardiac surgery.
abstract: We investigated the changes of an 8-week cardiac rehabilitation (CR) program on physiological outcomes and health-related quality of life (HRQL) in Japanese cardiac surgery patients. Subjects were 47 consecutive outpatients (32 men, 15 women; mean age 59.4 ± 12.6 years) recovering from cardiac surgery. Patients performed both aerobic exercise on a treadmill at anaerobic threshold intensity and moderate resistance training 2 days per week, 60 min per session, from 1 to 3 months after cardiac surgery. Differences in the eight SF-36 subscale scores and physiological outcomes within the patient group at 1 month and at 3 months after cardiac surgery were analyzed. Peak oxygen uptake, handgrip strength, and knee extension strength were used as physiological outcome measures. HRQL was assessed with the Japanese version Medical Outcome Study Short Form 36 (SF-36). Significant change in overall physiological outcome from 1 month to 3 months was observed. There was also significant change in seven of the eight SF-36 health status subscale scores (physical functioning, role-physical, bodily pain, general health, vitality, role-emotional, and mental health). However, with the exception of physical functioning and mental health scores, values did not reach those of the average healthy Japanese. In conclusion, we found that CR exercise training for Japanese cardiac surgery patients during the recovery phase changes not only physiological outcomes but also HRQL as assessed by the SF-36.
authors: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Yokohama City Seibu Hospital, Yokohama 241-0811, Japan.
authors: Yasuyuki
authors: Y
authors: Hirano
authors: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, St. Marianna University School of Medicine Hospital, Kawasaki 216-8511, Japan.
authors: Kazuhiro
authors: K
authors: Izawa
authors: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, St. Marianna University School of Medicine Hospital, Kawasaki 216-8511, Japan.
authors: Satoshi
authors: S
authors: Watanabe
authors: Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Nagoya, Nagoya 461-8673, Japan.
authors: Sumio
authors: S
authors: Yamada
authors: Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, Tokyo 173-0015, Japan.
authors: Koichiro
authors: K
authors: Oka
authors: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Yokohama City Seibu Hospital, Yokohama 241-0811, Japan.
authors: Yusuke
authors: Y
authors: Kasahara
authors: Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Kawasaki 216-8511, Japan.
authors: Kazuto
authors: K
authors: Omiya
keywords: cardiac rehabilitation; cardiac surgery; health-related quality of life