Functional Capacity Of Patients One Year Post Cardiac Rehabilitation

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) improves functional capacity (FC), quality of life (QoL), psychosocial well-being, and reduces cardiovascular risk factors using lifestyle management strategies. Despite well known benefits, little is known about the long-term effects of CR on risk factor management and changes in FC following discharge. Therefore, the purpose of this retrospective cross-sectional investigation was to examine changes in 6-minute walk distance (6MWD) 11-15 months following CR. METHODS: Patients referred to the UAB Cardiac Rehabilitation Program from 2016-2019 who completed 24-36 sessions and 6-minute walk tests (6MWT) at intake, discharge, and post-discharge were included in this pilot investigation. Twenty-two patients were included with the following CVD diagnoses: myocardial infarction, angina, PCI, CABS, or valve replacement. Repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to examine differences over time for 6MWD with least significance difference (LSD) post-hoc testing (SPSS, v25). RESULTS: 6MWD increased by 30% from intake to discharge (388 ± 96 m to 504 ± 123 m, P < 0.0001). Post-discharge walking distance (519 ± 118 m) remained higher than intake (P < 0.0001) but was similar to discharge (P = 0.091). Body weight, waist circumference, systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) all returned to baseline intake values post-discharge. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that CR may produce lifestyle and behavioral changes that promote long-term maintenance of FC. While an extensive examination of other risk factors was not performed, increases in body weight and blood pressure observed 11-15 months post-discharge are discouraging. A thorough examination of the long-term consequences of these findings with preserved FC will be needed to explore the interaction between FC and other risk factors as it relates to secondary prevention of CVD. Sponsor: UAB Departments of Human Studies and Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation