Exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation increases daily physical activity of patients following myocardial infarction: subanalysis of two randomised controlled trials

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2017

Authors

F. Ribeiro (Author) Other; N. L. Oliveira (Author) Other; G. Silva (Author) Other; L. Campos (Author) Other; F. Miranda (Author) Other; M. Teixeira (Author) Other; A. J. Alves (Author) Other; J. Oliveira (Author) FADEUP

Journal

Title: Physiotherapy

Vol. 103 No. 1

Pages: 59-65

ISSN: 0031-9406

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 15 Citations

Scopus - 18 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Medical and Health sciences

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00K-A46

DOI: 10.1016/j.physio.2015.12.002

Abstract (EN): Objective: To assess the effects of an exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation programme on daily physical activity levels of patients following myocardial infarction. Design: Subanalysis of two randomised, prospective controlled trials. Setting: Outpatient clinic of a secondary hospital. Participants: Fifty consecutive patients randomised to the exercise group (. n = 25; 23 males; mean age 54 [standard deviation (SD) 9] years) or the control group [. n = 25; 20 males; mean age 58 (SD 9) years]. Interventions: The exercise group participated in an 8-week aerobic exercise programme plus usual medical care and follow-up. The control group received usual medical care and follow-up. Main outcome measures: The primary outcome measure was change in time spent undertaking moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per day, assessed by accelerometer over 7 consecutive days. Secondary outcome measures were cardiorespiratory fitness, body mass, and resting blood pressure and heart rate. Results: Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity levels increased significantly in the exercise group [43.2 (SD 36.3) to 53.5 (SD 31.9) minutes/day, P = 0.030], and remained unchanged in the control group [40.8 (SD 26.2) to 36.8 (SD 26.5) minutes/day, P = 0.241] from baseline to the end of the programme. Cardiorespiratory fitness increased significantly in the exercise group (mean difference 2.8; 95% of the difference 1.3 to 4.4. ml/kg/minute, P = 0.001) after the 8-week programme. Conclusions: In patients under optimal medication following myocardial infarction, participation in an 8-week exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation programme was found to improve physical activity levels consistent with health-related benefits. Future studies are needed to determine whether the increase in physical activity is maintained in the long term. © 2015 Chartered Society of Physiotherapy.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific