title: Six-Minute Walk Test Distances in Fast-Track and Traditional Cardiac Rehabilitation: A 3-YEAR DATABASE REVIEW.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Home-based and center-based cardiac rehabilitation (CR) have demonstrated similar levels of risk factor reduction. Cardiac rehabilitation models with fewer exercise sessions may be as effective as traditional models. This study reviewed a community phase II CR database from 2007 to 2010.
  
  
  METHODS
  A fast-track CR (FTCR) group was introduced alongside an existing traditional CR (TCR) program. The 2 programs ran concurrently on different days. Both FTCR and TCR treatment groups undertook supervised low to moderate intensity exercise training for 6 weeks and were provided with home exercise advice. Fast-track CR included once-weekly exercise sessions and a 1-time 7-hour education session; TCR included twice-weekly exercise and education sessions. Similar education was provided in both programs. Six-minute walk test distance (6MWD) was assessed pre-CR and post-CR for both groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six hundred and twenty patients enrolled in CR during the period, and patients elected or were assigned (not randomized) to FTCR (n = 197) or to TCR (n = 423) treatment groups. Complete 6MWD data sets were available for 115 FTCR and 254 TCR subjects. Repeated-measures analysis of variance found 6MWD outcomes to be similar for both groups over both assessments combined and at each assessment point. Improvements in 6MWD post-CR were different for men and women in the CR database (8% vs 5%, respectively, P < .001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Six-minute walk test distance outcomes were not different for subjects undergoing once-weekly or twice-weekly supervised CR exercise sessions. CR models with fewer supervised exercise sessions may provide similar functional outcomes to traditional CR models.
authors.affiliation: Physiotherapy Department, The Prince Charles Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia (Dr Bellet and Ms Francis); and The School of Allied Health Sciences and Griffith Health Institute, Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, Southport, Queensland, Australia (Drs Adams and Morris).
authors.forename: R Nicole
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Bellet
authors.forename: Rebecca L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Francis
authors.forename: Lewis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.forename: Norman R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Morris
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016208:Databases, Factual / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016138:Walking / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*