Abstract
ObjectiveTo assess the association between cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and outcomes in a cardiac rehabilitation (CR) cohort. Patients and MethodsWe conducted a retrospective study of 5641 patients (4282 men [76%] and 1359 women [24%]; mean ± SD age, 60.0±10.3 years) with coronary artery disease who participated in CR between July 1, 1996, and February 28, 2009. Based on peak metabolic equivalents (METs), patients were classified as low fitness (LFit) (<5 METs), moderate fitness (5-8 METs), or high fitness (>8 METs). ResultsBaseline fitness predicted long-term mortality: relative to the LFit group, patients with moderate fitness had an adjusted hazard ratio of 0.54 (95% CI, 0.42-0.69), and those with high fitness a hazard ratio of 0.32 (95% CI, 0.24-0.44). Improvement in CRF at 12 weeks was associated with decreased overall mortality, with a 13% point reduction with each MET increase (P<.001) and a 30% point reduction in those who started with LFit. At 1 year, each MET increase in CRF was associated with a 25% point reduction in overall mortality in the whole group (P<.001). ConclusionIn this study of contemporary CR patients, higher baseline fitness predicted lower mortality. The novel finding was that improvement in fitness during a CR program and improvements that persisted at 1 year were also associated with decreased mortality, most strongly in patients who start with LFit.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
