Abstract
Purpose: Data are scarce concerning the sustainable effects of cardiac rehabilitation (CR), on cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). This study, carried out using data from a French multicenter study, aimed to clarify the evolution of the CRF of patients with CAD 1 yr after the end of a CR stay.
Methods: Patients were included after an acute coronary syndrome (77%) and/or coronary revascularization, occurring <3 mo beforehand. All underwent a CR program with CRF evaluation by exercise testing (ET) on a cycle ergometer at the beginning of CR (ET1), at its end (ET2), and 1 yr later (ET3)-all ETs were performed with medication.
Results: Two hundred fifty-nine patients were included (age 60 +/- 10 yr, 89% male) in 16 French CR centers. Left ventricular ejection fraction was 55.3 +/- 9%. Revascularization was complete (82%). Maximal workloads were 110 +/- 37 (ET1), 139 +/- 43 (ET2), and 144 +/- 46 W (ET3) (P < .001). The estimated metabolic equivalents of the task (METs) were respectively 5.3 +/- 1.4, 6.4 +/- 1.6 (P < .001), and 6.6 +/- 1.7 (P < .002). One year later, 163 patients (63%) improved or maintained their CRF (ET3 >= ET2), 73 (28%) decreased (ET1 < ET3 < ET2), and 23 (9%) lost the benefit of CR (ET3 <= ET1).
Conclusion: Among completers who agreed to enroll in this study, most patients with CAD seem to maintain their CRF 1 yr after CR.