Effects of a Prolonged Exercise Program on Exercise Tolerance in Individuals with History of Acute Coronary Syndrome: A Retrospective Study

Abstract

Objective : To verify the influence of a prolonged physical exercise program on physical fitness and cardiovascular parameters, as evaluated by exercise stress test (EST), in subjects with newly diagnosed acute coronary syndrome. Methods : The sample included 50 subjects distributed by an experimental group (EG; n = 25) and a control group (CG; n = 25). The EG was subject to a program of regular exercise during 52 weeks. All subjects performed two ESTs: one at the beginning and one at the end of the experimental protocol. The first test was performed 2-3 months after the cardiac event. During the EST fitness parameters (speed and incline of the treadmill and test time), cardiovascular parameters (maximum and resting heart rate, maximum and resting blood pressure, and maximum and resting double product), and metabolic equivalents were recorded. Results : Compared with the first test, in the second EST showed a significant increase (p <0.05) of the absolute values of metabolic equivalents and physical fitness indicators (testing time and maximum speed and incline of the treadmill) in the EG, with a percentage of variation of these parameters significantly higher than in CG. Despite the better physical performance demonstrated by the EG, there were no significant differences between the two groups with respect to cardiovascular parameters. Conclusion : In this study, the physical training program improved exercise tolerance in individuals with a history of acute coronary events, without an apparent increased cardiac work.