title: Long-term effects of cardiac rehabilitation in elderly individuals with stable coronary artery disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare exercise capacity and cardiovascular response to exercise in elderly individuals with coronary artery disease (CAD) who attend ongoing community-based maintenance cardiac rehabilitation (CR) versus age- and gender-matched healthy "very active" (HVA; ≥ 2000 kcal/week) and healthy "less active" (HLA; <2000 kcal/week) individuals.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-three participants (age: 72.3 ± 5.1 years; 62% men; n = 21 per group) completed the following assessments: (1) symptom-limited graded exercise test with expired gas analysis and bioimpedance assessment of cardiovascular function during exercise; (2) walking tests; (3) physical function; (4) anthropometry and (5) 12-month physical activity recall.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The CR group achieved 98% (range: 73-154%) of age- and gender-predicted peak oxygen consumption for healthy individuals. Peak oxygen consumption was lower in CR compared to HVA but not HLA group (VO2peak: CR: 19.0 ± 4.5, HVA: 23.7 ± 2.9, HLA: 20.7 ± 4.7 ml ·kg(-1)ċmin(-1), p = 0.001 versus HVA; p = 0.390 versus HLA). Peak heart rate was lower in CR compared to both HVA and HLA. Walking test results and cardiovascular and physical function were not different between the groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Elderly individuals with CAD participating in maintenance CR have similar exercise capacity and cardiorespiratory response to exercise compared to their age- and gender-matched less active healthy peers. The findings support referral of elderly patients to community-based CR.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fitness benefits of long-term maintenance cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programs remain unknown. Elderly individuals with coronary artery disease participating in maintenance CR have exercise capacity and cardiorespiratory response to exercise similar to their less active healthy peers. Maintenance CR may play an important role prolonging independent living in elderly individuals.
authors.affiliation: a Active Living Laboratory, School of Physical Education, Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Otago , Dunedin , New Zealand .
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mandic
authors.affiliation: a Active Living Laboratory, School of Physical Education, Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Otago , Dunedin , New Zealand .
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Stevens
authors.affiliation: a Active Living Laboratory, School of Physical Education, Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Otago , Dunedin , New Zealand .
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hodge
authors.affiliation: a Active Living Laboratory, School of Physical Education, Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Otago , Dunedin , New Zealand .
authors.forename: Casey
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: b Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago , Dunedin , New Zealand , and.|c Dunedin Hospital , Dunedin , New Zealand.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.affiliation: c Dunedin Hospital , Dunedin , New Zealand.
authors.forename: Dianne
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Body
authors.affiliation: c Dunedin Hospital , Dunedin , New Zealand.
authors.forename: Leanne
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Barclay
authors.affiliation: b Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago , Dunedin , New Zealand , and.
authors.forename: Edwin R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Nye
authors.affiliation: b Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago , Dunedin , New Zealand , and.|c Dunedin Hospital , Dunedin , New Zealand.
authors.forename: Michael J A
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000886:Anthropometry / Q000379:methods; D000072038:Cardiac Rehabilitation / Q000379:methods; D002307:Cardiography, Impedance / Q000379:methods; D002319:Cardiovascular System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000379:methods; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D017079:Exercise Tolerance; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009520:New Zealand; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D011788:Quality of Life; D013995:Time
keywords: Cardiac rehabilitation; cardiovascular function; coronary artery disease; elderly; exercise capacity; peak oxygen consumption