title: Effects of a Phase IV Home-Based Cardiac Rehabilitation Program on Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Physical Activity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death globally and sedentary lifestyle is one of the main risk factors. Home-based cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programs appear to be effective to improve exercise tolerance. The aim of the study, therefore, was to evaluate the effects of a phase IV (maintenance) home-based CR program on cardiorespiratory fitness and daily physical activity of patients recovering from an acute myocardial infarction.
  
  
  METHODS
  This pilot study, with a sub-group randomised controlled trial, included 32 individuals recovering from a myocardial infarction, randomly divided into the experimental group (EG, n=16) and the control group (CG, n=16). The EG performed an exercise program, three times per week, at home during eight weeks. The two groups received health education sessions. Baseline and final assessments included cardiorespiratory fitness, resting and peak heart rate, blood pressure and rate pressure, heart rate recovery and daily physical activity. (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01887080).
  
  
  RESULTS
  At baseline no significant differences were observed between groups. After eight weeks of exercise, the EG significantly increased peak oxygen uptake (p=0.02), test duration (p=0.019), peak rate pressure (p=0.003), peak heart rate (p=0.003) and heart rate recovery (0.025) when compared to the CG. No changes were observed on daily physical activity in both groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This specific phase IV home-based exercise program seems to improve cardiorespiratory fitness, haemodynamics at peak exercise and heart rate recovery, an indicator of cardiac autonomic function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, School of Allied Health Technologies, Polytechnic Institute of Porto, Porto, Portugal. Electronic address: arn@ess.ipp.pt.
authors.forename: Andreia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Noites
authors.affiliation: Hôpital du Jura bernois SA, Saint-Imier, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Carla Patrícia
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Freitas
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, School of Allied Health Technologies, Polytechnic Institute of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Joana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, School of Allied Health Technologies, Polytechnic Institute of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Melo
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, School of Allied Health Technologies, Polytechnic Institute of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Ágata
authors.initials: Á
authors.lastname: Vieira
authors.affiliation: Serviço de Cardiologia, Centro Hospitalar de Vila Nova de Gaia/Espinho, EPE, Portugal.
authors.forename: Aníbal
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Albuquerque
authors.affiliation: Serviço de Cardiologia, Centro Hospitalar de Vila Nova de Gaia/Espinho, EPE, Portugal.
authors.forename: Madalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Teixeira
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences and Institute of Biomedicine - iBiMED, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal.
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal.
authors.forename: José Mesquita
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Bastos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000072599:Cardiorespiratory Fitness; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*
keywords: Acute myocardial infarction; Cardiac rehabilitation; Home care; Physical exercise