title: Complications of Heart Rhythm Management Devices After Cardiac Rehabilitation Program.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to examine physical and heart rhythm management device malfunction complications after participating in a cardiac rehabilitation program intervention compared with usual care.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was a clinical trial of 100 patients. After randomization, intervention group patients received 8 cardiac rehabilitation program sessions for 8 weeks and follow-up phone calls. Each session consisted of exercise training, education, and psychological interventions. Data were collected at 3 points in both groups-baseline and 8 and 12 weeks after the first day of the intervention-using a researcher-designed case report form. Data were analyzed using descriptive and nonparametric tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the participants, 59% were men, and the sample was aged 40 to 60 years. At the 8- to 12-week follow-up, there were less physical complications among the cardiac rehabilitation group (P < .001) and no between-group differences in complications related to device malfunction. By heart rhythm device type, cardiac rehabilitation had the greatest efficacy in reducing physical complications in patients with cardioverter/defibrillators.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cardiac rehabilitation reduced physical complications in patients with cardiac rhythm management devices, especially in patients with cardioverter/defibrillators. Cardiac clinical nurse specialists should recommend rehabilitation programs as part of postimplantation rhythm device treatment to decrease the risk of physical complications.
authors.affiliation: Author Affiliations: Assistant Professor, School of Nursing and Midwifery (Dr Rakhshan); Student at the Research Committee (Ms Ansari); Associate Professor, Community-Based Psychiatric Care Research Center (Dr Molazem); and Associate Professor, Biostatic Department (Dr Zare), Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Iran.
authors.forename: Mahnaz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rakhshan
authors.forename: Leyla
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ansari
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Molazem
authors.forename: Najaf
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zare
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000628:therapy*; D000072038:Cardiac Rehabilitation; D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004868:Equipment Failure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome