Physical activity in patients with grown-up congenital heart defects after comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation.
BACKGROUND
The group of grown-up patients with congenital heart defects (grown-up congenital heart - GUCH) complains of a number of specific medical and non-medical problems. The presented program of comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation (CCR-GUCH), dedicated to the above mentioned group, can potentially improve the physical activity of GUCH patients.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to assess the effect of the comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation program on the physical activity of GUCH patients.


METHODS
The invitation to take part in the CCR-GUCH program was addressed to a group of 57 patients (mean age: 23.7 ± 4.1 years) who had undergone the surgical correction of ventricular septal defects (VSD) or atrial septal defects (ASD) at least 12 months earlier. The patients were divided into two groups: A - patients undergoing rehabilitation, and B - patients who did not participate in the program. The patients were initially examined using functional and stress tests, and the program of comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation was started in group A. After 30 days, the patients from both groups underwent further testing using the same methods as during the initial evaluation.


RESULTS
After one month of rehabilitation, the physical activity parameters of patients participating in the CCR-GUCH program (group A) were significantly better than those observed among non-participants (group B).


CONCLUSIONS
The introduction of the comprehensive rehabilitation program improves the physical activity and, consequently, the quality of life of GUCH patients. The CCR-GUCH program appears to be a justified supplement to holistic care in the late rehabilitation of patients after the surgical correction of congenital heart defects.
Department of Rehabilitation, Medical University of Gdansk, Poland.
Katarzyna
K
Gierat-Haponiuk
Department of Physiotherapy, Jędrzej Śniadecki University of Physical Education and Sport in Gdansk, Poland ; Department of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery, Nicolaus Copernicus Hospital in Gdansk, Poland.
Ireneusz
I
Haponiuk
Department of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery, Nicolaus Copernicus Hospital in Gdansk, Poland.
Radosław
R
Jaworski
Department of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery, Nicolaus Copernicus Hospital in Gdansk, Poland.
Maciej
M
Chojnicki
Department of Rehabilitation, Medical University of Gdansk, Poland.
Dominika
D
Szalewska
Department of Obstetrics, Medical University of Gdansk, Poland.
Katarzyna
K
Leszczyńska
Department of Rehabilitation, Medical University of Gdansk, Poland.
Stanisław
S
Bakuła
GUCH; cardiac rehabilitation; physical activity