Assessment of coronary artery disease patient eligibility to phase 3 cardiac rehabilitation in the outpatient settings after myocardial revascularization

Abstract

Aim. To determine the clinical factors affecting the timely reference of patients with coronary artery disease after myocardial revascularization to Phase 3 cardiac rehabilitation.Methods. 773 patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) who underwent myocardial revascularization were recruited in a study. Of them, 77 (9.96%) underwent coronary artery bypass grafting and 696 (90.04%) underwent PCI. Within 1 month of discharge, patients were examined by a cardiologist in the outpatient hospital and then referred to the cardiac rehabilitation team to assess their eligibility. The eligibility for exercise rehabilitation was assessed based on the results of general examination, clinical and laboratory findings. The prevalence of absolute and relative contraindications to exercise rehabilitation was measured.Results. 10% of CAD patients after myocardial revascularization had absolute contraindications and 29.6% had relative contraindications to exercise rehabilitation. The presence of relative contraindications (exaggerated blood pressure response (>80/100 mm Hg) to exercise or a decrease in systolic blood pressure ≥20 mm Hg, ventricular extrasystole and tachycardia, paroxysmal tachyarrhythmias in response to exercise, active gastroduodenal ulcer, and less than 1 month after its exacerbation, moderate heart valvular disease (aortic stenosis), decompensated carbohydrate metabolism disorders) required the management of risk factors limiting patients on the participation in exercise rehabilitation. The routing of CAD patients after myocardial revascularization at Phase 3 cardiac rehabilitation was developed and introduced in the Clinical Cardiological Dispensary in the Omsk region.Conclusion. Most patients with CAD after myocardial revascularization should be referred to exercise rehabilitation. These patients rarely have absolute contraindications (about 10%). Despite relative contraindications are rather high (about 30%), risk factors limiting patient participation in exercise rehabilitation are managed successfully. Optimal routing of patients contributes to their prompt recruiting to cardiac rehabilitation. Effective management of cardiovascular risk factors allows recruiting more patients in exercise rehabilitation.