CHANGES IN HEMORHEOLOGICAL PROFILE OF MEN WITH CHD ENTERING A PHASE I/II CARDIAC REHABILITATION PROGRAM

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine if several hemorheological parameters remained constant for older men entering a phase I/II cardiac rehabilitation program. Ten nonsmoking men with known ischemic heart disease (IHD) not taking diuretics (mean age = 60.2 ± 11.6 yrs) volunteered to participate in this study. Initial blood samples were taken during the cardiac rehabilitation admission clinic and analyzed for plasma fibrinogen concentration (FIB)(3.2 ± 0.5 g/l), hematocrit (HC) (39.2 ± 3.5), and plasma viscosity (PV)(1.28 ± 0.09 mPa's). Subjects were returned to the community while they waited to start the formal cardiac rehabilitation classes. During this time (mean interval = 39.1 ± 13.0 days) no formal exercise prescription was followed nor was there any significant change to their pharmacological therapy. Subjects were then re-tested for FIB (3.1 ± 0.5 g/l), HC (36.7 ± 4.6) and PV (1.21 ± 0.7 mPa · s) just prior to starting the cardiac rehabilitation classes. Two tailed, paired t-test revealed a significant change to PV (p < 0.01) and HC (p < 0.01) but no significant change to FIB (p = 0.41). Further analysis revealed a significant correlation between the change in PV and the change in FIB (r = 0.71, p < 0.01), and a significant correlation between the change in PV and the change in HC (r = 0.51, p = 0.05). The findings suggest: 1) PV and HC did not remain constant over the time period, 2) a significant relationship indicates the change in PV can be accounted for by the change in FIB, 3) the common decrease in HC and FIB (both concentration measures) suggest that there was a change in plasma volume.