Abstract 218: Aerobic And Strength Training Improves Functional Capacity In Diabetic Patients Undergoing Cardiac Rehabilitation

Abstract

Background: Traditional cardiac rehabilitation (CR) focuses on aerobic training to improve functional capacity and recovery after cardiovascular events. The use of combined aerobic and strength training is not yet standard of care despite its potential for improving functional capacity. The aim of this study was to characterize the effectiveness of a combined aerobic and strength training CR program for patients living with diabetes in comparison to patients without diabetes. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed initial and final functional assessments for 167 patients participating in CR between 12/2019 - 9/2021. Functional capacity was assessed by the metabolic equivalent of task (METs) in a 6-minute walk test (6-MWT), arm curl reps, chair-to-stand reps, and timed up and go test. P-values were determined by the Mann Whitney U test and Wilcoxon signed rank test. Results: Cohort characteristics and outcomes are listed in Table 1. Diabetic and non-diabetic patients improved in all measures of functional capacity, with arm curls and chair-to-stand exhibiting the greatest change. There was no statistical difference in outcomes between groups. Conclusions: Diabetic patients had equivalent improvements in both aerobic and strength measures as their non-diabetic counterparts. This is an early dataset that highlights the effectiveness of combined aerobic and strength training to improve the quality of CR care for diabetic patients.