Exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation in patients with acute coronary syndromes

INTRODUCTION: Cardiac rehabilitation is a comprehensive program of patient evaluation, risk factor reduction, physical activity, and longitudinal care designed to reduce the effects of cardiovascular disease, and is an effective means of mitigating disease and disability. METHODS: The study was conducted on 50 patients presented by acute coronary syndrome. They were divided into group A, who were subjected to 8-weeks exercise based cardiac rehabilitation program using treadmill according to the Modified Bruce protocol, and group B who were given adequate medication. The outcomes of the participants included, triglyceride, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HA1c, blood pressure, HR, EF, and METS. All parameters were measured before and after the exercise program. RESULTS: The intervention and control groups were similar at baseline. At the end of the study, the rehabilitation group showed a significant reduction in both SABP and DABP (p=0.001), heart rate (p= 0.001), significant reduction in triglycerides (p=0.004), LDL-C (p=0.006), and increase in HDL-C (p=0.004) and significant increase in functional capacity measured in METS (p= 0.001). Blood pressure and heart rate decreased significantly in control group with no significant change in lipid profile. HbA1c and left ventricular ejection fraction did not show significant change in both intervention and control groups. DISCUSSION: Comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation and secondary prevention programs were able to causes significant improvement of cardiovascular risk factors and functional capacity through optimization of medical treatment, risk factor control, prescribed exercise training and increasing physical activity.