Effects of Comprehensive Cardiac Rehabilitation on Left Ventricular Remodeling in Patients With Ischemic Cardiomyopathy

Abstract

Background: Left ventricular (LV) remodeling has a key role in the progression of heart failure. Therefore, we examined effects of comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation (CR) on LV remodeling in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM). Methods and Results: 69 ICM patients who hospitalized due to decompensated heart failure and had ejection fraction (EF) being 40% or less at discharge were retrospectively studied. During follow-up period, 29 patients re-hospitalized. At discharge, LV end diastolic volume (LVEDV) and LV end systolic volume (LVESV) of 29 patients who re-hospitalized were larger than those of 40 patients who did not re-hospitalize. Furthermore, 40 patients who did not re-hospitalize were divided into CR group which maintained CR over 3-months (n = 25) and non-CR group which could not participate in CR (n = 15). Clinical data, echocardiographic parameters were compared baseline and 6 months later. LVEF was improved in both groups. LVEDV and LVESV of CR group were improved (LVEDV; 156.1 ± 59.6 ml vs 131.3 ± 46.5 ml, P = .11, LVESV; 115.1 ± 55.6 ml vs 89.5 ± 38.8 ml, P < .05), but LVEDV and LVESV of non-CR group were conversely dilated (LVEDV; 124.3 ± 40.8 ml vs 136.9 ± 49.5 ml, P = .73, LVESV; 86.4 ± 33.6 ml vs 92.8 ± 35.9 ml, P = .97). Conclusion: LVEDV and LVESV of re-hospitalized patients were larger than those of not re-hospitalized ICM patients, but comprehensive CR improves LVEDV and LVESV in ICM patients.