Predictors of physical fitness and health-related quality of life based on anthropometrics characteristics and exercise stress test performance in cardiac rehabilitation

Abstract

Introduction Sedentary lifestyle and physical inactivity are among the leading modifiable risk factors worldwide for cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality [1]. Many patients in contemporary cardiac rehabilitation programs are quite deconditioned on entry. Cardiac rehabilitation Program (CRP) provides a cost-effective therapy that aims to accelerate recovery following an acute event and reduce the risk of recurrent events, through structured exercise prescription, education, and risk factor modification [2]. The positive effect of CRP on functional capacity has been known for some years [3]. In this study, we aim to assess the relationship between health-related quality of life (HRQoL), Metabolic Equivalents (METS) spend on exercise stress test, body mass index and waist circumference in patients with cardiovascular disease before beginning a cardiac rehabilitation program. Material and methods We performed an observational study with inclusion of thirteen male patients with coronary heart disease, 53.8 ± 8.2 years old who were admitted to the Department of Cardiology of Hospital Garcia de Orta and referred for CRP. The HRQoL was assessed with the short form‐36 (SF‐36) questionnaire. METS were calculated using the Bruce protocol when patients performed exercise stress test, body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference was measured, at initial physical examination. All subjects signed an informed consent. This study followed all the principles of Helsinki Declaration. Results The mean value for BMI was 28.3 ± 4.0 kg m−2, waist circumference 102.6 ± 14.8 cm and METS 9.99 ± 3.14. There was a positive correlation between BMI and waist circumference (r = 0.87; p = .001); between waist circumference and METS a negative correlation was observed (r = −0.59; p = .040). The domain physical functioning score from SF-36 was positively correlated with METS (r = 0.65; p = .010), and was negatively correlated with waist circumference (r = −0.60; p = .020). The lowest mean values of SF-36 scores observed were vitality (63.1 ± 20.4), and general health (56.8 ± 22.5). Discussion and conclusion As expected subjects with higher BMI had also higher waist circumference. Patients with better perception of physical function were those with lower waist circumference and who had better performance in exercise stress test. These results are in accordance with previous studies [4]. We can conclude that waist circumferences and METS could be good CRP effectiveness predictors on these patients. Once it is expectable to achieve decreases in waist circumferences and increase METS after CRP, with improvements in physical function perception.