Binary cardiac rehabilitation in patients with acute myocardial infarction and the measurement of 6-minute Walk Test

Abstract

Objective To study the effects of binary cardiac rehabilitation (CR) composed of hospital-based and home-based CR in patients after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) evaluated by six-minute walking distance (6MWD). Methods A total of 38 post-MI patients were divided into two groups, namely conventional CR group (n=20) and binary CR group (n=18). In the first seven days, CR training was carried out in all 38 patients in our hospital, and then 20 patients were kept at CR training in the hospital (hospital-based CR group), whereas the remaining 18 patients (binary CR group) got tele-monitored walking training at home for eight weeks (binary model). Before discharge from hospital based CR or after 8 weeks CR at home, all patients received Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing and Six-minute Walk Test, and the data of patients’ body mass index (BMI), thyroid function, serum lipid metabolism and echocardiography were collected before and after CR. Results After CR, BMI and low density lipoprotein (LDL) decrease in both groups compared with those before CR[hospital-based group: BMI, (25.99±3.36 )kg/m2vs. (23.04±3.72) kg/m2,P 0.05). Conclusions In post-MI patients, a binary model of CR training improved physical capacity and was a similarly effective form of CR as a entirely hospital-based approach. A home-based tele-monitored program facilitated patients’ adherence to CR. The 6 minute walk experiment is economical and good evaluation on the CR effect of binary cardiac rehabilitation. Key words: Cardiac rehabilitation; Acute myocardial infarction; Six-minute walk test; Home-based tele-monitored training