Cardiac Rehabilitation Therapy Research Articles

Psychological Risk Factors and Cardiovascular Disease: Is it All in Your Head?

Psychological stress has been shown to be associated with cardiovascular disease. Over the past few decades, there has been an increasing interest in this relationship, leading to a growing pool of clinical and epidemiological data on the subject. Psychological stress has multiple etiologies, which include behavioral causes, acute events or stressors, and/or chronic stress. Cardiac rehabilitation and exercise therapy have been shown to provide protection in primary and secondary coronary heart disease prevention, as well as improve overall morbidity and mortality. In this article, we review the available data regarding the association between psychological stress and cardiovascular disease, as well as the impact of cardiac rehabilitation and exercise therapy on psychological stress-related cardiovascular events.

Impacto de la rehabilitación cardiaca en pacientes con falla cardiaca de origen isquémico

OBJECTIVE: to establish the impact of heart rehabilitation in patients with heart failure of ischemic origin with ejection fraction <40% in terms of symptoms by subjective perception of the Borg scale, VO2, MET and distance in miles before and at the end of cardiovascular rehabilitation therapy. DESIGN: concurrent cohort study. POPULATION: 224 patients admitted to the Abood Shaio Clinic Foundation cardiac rehabilitation program in the period from December 10, 2004 to May 2, 2008. MEASUREMENTS: it was reviewed the database of cardiac rehabilitation classifying physical activity parameters on admission and at discharge from therapy. RESULTS: with regard to the impact of cardiac rehabilitation therapy at baseline, 63% of patients were in the modified one and two Borg scale and at the end, 85% of patients (p <0.001) was placed on the three and four scales; VO2 at baseline was 7.79 and to the end 19.04 (p <0.001); the METS at the beginning was 2.22 and at the end 5.44 (p <0.001) and distance in miles per hour at the beginning was 1, 33 and at the end 2.58 (p <0.001). CONCLUSIONS: it was found that cardiac rehabilitation had a significant impact in patients with ischemic heart failure with left ventricular ejection fraction <40% in terms of subjective perception of symptoms in the Borg scale, indirect VO2, METS and distance in miles per hour.

The impact of sexual therapy on patients after cardiac events participating in a cardiac rehabilitation program

To assess the impact of a sexual therapy module on male patients participating in phase 2 cardiac rehabilitation after a cardiac event. We randomly assigned 92 consecutive male patients (age < or =70 years, mean age 58 years), on their admission to phase 2 cardiac rehabilitation after myocardial infarction/acute coronary syndromes and/or coronary artery bypass graft, into a 'sexual therapy group' (n=47) and a 'control group' (n=45). Two co-therapists met with the patient and spouse for 5 h in three sessions, in addition to cardiac rehabilitation. Sexual therapy included patient education, cognitive restructuring, emotional support, guided imagery, and medication (Viagra). Controls participated in cardiac rehabilitation without sexual therapy. Self-report questionnaires were used three times: before, 1, and 4 months after sexual therapy. Baseline characteristics of both groups were similar. More sexual therapy patients resumed sexual activity within 1 month (87% vs. 50% in control). Sexual therapy patients improved more than controls in quality of sexual function in terms of libido, confidence to attain erection, satisfaction with sexual relationship, frequency of erection, and enjoyment of sex. Sexual therapy patients were highly satisfied with cardiac rehabilitation and sexual therapy. Sexual therapy is significantly effective in improving the frequency and quality of sexual activity in a patient's postcardiac event beyond the usual cardiac rehabilitation. Sexual therapy should be an integral part of cardiac rehabilitation.

Drop-out predictors in cardiac rehabilitation programmes and the impact of sex differences among coronary heart disease patients in an Iranian sample: a cohort study

Objective : To determine whether patients who subsequently drop out of a structured cardiac rehabilitation programme could be prospectively distinguished from those who remain in the programme based upon their initial baseline characteristics. Design : A cohort study. Setting : A referral rehabilitation department in a cardiovascular research and training institute. Subjects : One thousand one hundred and fifteen coronary heart disease patients including patients with ischaemic heart disease, and those undergoing bypass surgery or percutaneous coronary interventions. Interventions : Demographic characteristics, coronary heart disease risk factors, ejection fraction, functional capacity and laboratory tests were considered at baseline. Main measures : Patients who completed all 24 sessions of the cardiac rehabilitation programme were compared with drop-out cases who did not. Results : Four hundred and ninety-nine patients (44.8%) completed the whole cardiac rehabilitation programme. Women (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 1.817, P < 0.001), older patients (AOR 1.015, P = 0.047), patients with lower risk of coronary heart disease (AOR 1.573, P = 0.008) or lower body mass index (BMI) (AOR 0.945, P = 0.001) and higher waist-to-hip ratio (AOR 12.871, P = 0.009) and those who were non-smokers (AOR 1.779, P = 0.001) were significantly more likely to complete cardiac rehabilitation. Conclusions : Developing interventions to address special needs of young, obese, smoker male patients who have a lower waist-to-hip ratio and higher clinical risk may be important, especially in attempts to retain this high-risk group in cardiac rehabilitation therapy.

The role of complementary and alternative therapies in cardiac rehabilitation: a systematic evaluation

Presently, complementary and alternative medicine, including both therapies and herbal/oral supplements, is used globally. Few studies have examined the use of specific therapies, separate from herbal/oral supplements, in cardiac rehabilitation. This paper presents a systematic evaluation of current research evidence related to use of specific complementary and alternative medicine therapies in secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease, with a view to making recommendations for cardiac rehabilitation. A literature search was conducted using complementary and alternative medicine websites, Medline, Allied and Complementary Medicine, CINAHL, Cochrane databases, EMBASE, SportDiscus, Clinical Evidence, and Evidence-Based Practice to locate research-based scientific evidence related to the use of complementary and alternative medicine in cardiac rehabilitation. Search keywords included heart, cardiac, cardiovascular, coronary, myocardial and rehabilitation, combined with particular therapies. Herbal/oral supplements were not included in this evaluation. Some complementary and alternative medicine therapies may be useful to patients by themselves or coupled with traditional cardiac rehabilitation. Tai chi, as a complement to existing exercise interventions, can be utilized for low and intermediate risk patients. transcendental meditation may be used as a stress reduction technique. There was insufficient evidence found for the use of acupuncture or chelation therapy in cardiac rehabilitation or secondary prevention. Some complementary and alternative medicine therapies hold promise for patients in cardiac rehabilitation. Further research is essential, however, in all areas of complementary and alternative medicine to confirm its usefulness as an adjunct to cardiac rehabilitation.

Effect of Cardiac Rehabilitation and Statin Treatment on Anti-HSP Antibody Titers in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Accumulating evidence suggests that higher antibody titers to heat shock proteins (HSPs) are associated with the development and severity of atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of cardiac rehabilitation therapy (CRT) or stain treatment (STT) or a combination of both (COM) on anti-HSP antibodies in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Clinical evaluation of subjects was performed both at the commencement and completion of the 14 weeks of treatment. CRT consisted of a supervised 6 weeks of exercise following hospital discharge and 8 weeks of home stay exercise. Patients assigned to statin therapy were treated with 80 mg per day of fluvastatin. Blood samples from 39 patients were analyzed for antibodies to HSP60 and HSP70 by ELISA. Biochemical parameters, including lipids, high-sensitivity C reactive protein (hsCRP), and interleukin-6 (IL-6), were also analyzed. We found that CRT and COM reduced antibody titers to HSP60 and HSP70 in CAD patients (by 3.79 and 10.00% of anti-HSP60, and by 5.74 and 3.45% of anti-HSP70, respectively) but statin treatment reduced only antibody titers to HSP70 (by 3.83%). There was a significant correlation between antibody titers to HSP60 versus HSP70. Considering the fact that antibody titers to HSPs are associated with the autoimmune process in CAD, CRT and COM have greater effects on reduction in autoimmune reaction after PCI than statin treatment. This reduction was accompanied by greater improvements in blood biochemical variables, such as lipids, hsCRP, and IL-6 after CRT and COM.

Secondary prevention in acute myocardial infarction

Myocardial infarction is still one of the main causes of mortality and morbidity in Western countries. The advances made in the last 30 years have made it possible to reduce mortality significantly (which is currently below two digits) as well as morbidity. The subject of secondary prevention of myocardial infarction gains particular significance in this context since 10 to 15% of the patients who survive the hospital phase of myocardial infarction die during the first year following discharge and, of these deaths, half occur in the first three months. Therefore, it is necessary to make an early definition of the risk of another coronary event, that is, to make a risk stratification. This should occur throughout hospitalization and should be complete at the time of discharge, never beyond the first weeks of evolution. Bearing in mind the age, sex, coronary risk factors, ischemia persistence, the degree of left ventricular dysfunction and the presence of malignant disrhythmias, there are three risk levels: high; intermediate; and low. An overall approach to secondary prevention of infarction should take into account that, apart from the factors of such high prognostic value (Chapter II) assessed in the definition of risk groups, the measures to reduce reinfarction and sudden death (Chapter III) and the control of the risk factors for heart disease (Chapter IV) should also be considered. The principal late complications of infarction with significant prognostic influence are described in Chapter III: left ventricular dysfunction; rhythm disturbances and residual ischemia. The diagnostic criteria and therapeutic objectives are considered in each of the groups with relevance to consolidated advances according to the modern concept of evidence based medicine, according to international regulations. The grading of scientific evidence into three distinct categories (A, B and C), based on five levels of evidence classified from I to V, is presented accordingly in relation to the therapeutic proposals. Chapter III deals with a set of therapeutic interventions used in secondary prevention because they reduce reinfarction and sudden death: platelet antiaggregants; anticoagulants; Beta blockers; calcium channel blockers; antioxidants and nitrates. A concept of particular clinical significance is presented for each of these groups of drugs. The last part contains an eminently clinical overall review of the principal advances in coronary risk factor control, new therapeutic acquisitions in atherosclerotic disease with natural relevance to hypolipidemic agents and statins, which apart from controlling the plasmatic levels of cholesterol, also stabilize the atherosclerotic plaque and reduce acute coronary events significantly. Apart from dyslipidemia, the classic risk factors are: smoking; hypertension; obesity; diabetes and sedentary life. In each case, reference is made to the general measures and specific approaches, as well as the pharmacological therapy according to evidence based medicine. The recommended attitudes are pointed out. The role of cardiac rehabilitation and postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy are also discussed in the last part of these recommendations, in which the on-going controversy regarding hormone replacement therapy is pointed out in view of the results of more recent clinical trials.

Cardiac risk factors, medication, and recurrent clinical events after acute coronary disease; a prospective cohort study.

Systematic data are sparse on clinical outcome after acute coronary disease followed by cardiac rehabilitation therapy. Therefore, our objective was to determine the long-term development of cardiac risk factors, recurrent clinical events, and cardiac medication in patients undergoing routine in hospital cardiac rehabilitation therapy. In the prospective PIN Study (Post Infarct Care), 2441 consecutive patients (78% men, 60+/-10 years, 22% women, 65+/-10 years) were enrolled in 18 inpatient rehabilitation centres in Germany following myocardial infarction (56%), coronary artery bypass graft (38%) or percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (6%). Cardiac risk factors, pre-specified clinical end-points, and the prescription of cardiac medication were prospectively documented on admission to and at discharge from rehabilitation therapy, and 3, 6 and 12 months later by obtaining information with standardized questionnaires from the patients and their physicians. The cardiac risk factors improved initially during cardiac rehabilitation therapy, but deteriorated within the following 12 months: 39% patients smoked at the beginning vs 5% at the end of in hospital rehabilitation vs 10% at 12 months follow-up (P<0.001). The respective numbers for patients with blood pressure >140 and/or 90 mmHg were 24 vs 8 vs 25% (P<0.01) and with plasma cholesterol >200 mg. dl(-1)57 vs 29 vs 51% (P<0.01). A total of 886 patients experienced one or more recurrent clinical events during the first year, 69% of those within the initial 6 months. At 12 months follow-up, 77% of patients received aspirin, 70% beta-blockers, 62% lipid lowering medication, and 53% angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors. The present results indicate that the benefit of cardiac rehabilitation therapy following acute coronary events is only partially maintained during the following year. Continuous strategies of medical care need to be developed to improve the long-term outcome in coronary patients.

Effects of Cardiac Rehabilitation and Beta-Blocker Therapy on Heart Rate Variability After First Acute Myocardial Infarction

After acute myocardial infarction (AMI), rehabilitation with physical training increases parasympathetic tone. It is unknown whether such a favorable effect of exercise on the sympathovagal balance interacts with effects of other widespread therapies, such as β blockers. In 53 patients after a first, uncomplicated AMI, we studied the combined short- and long-term influence on heart rate variability (HRV) of rehabilitation and β blockade. Patients were divided into 3 groups: group 1 (n = 19) underwent rehabilitation with physical training; group 2 (n = 20) was taking β blockers and underwent rehabilitation; group 3 (n = 14) was taking β blockers and did not enter the rehabilitation program for logistic reasons. Patients were similar as to age, site of infarction, ejection fraction, left ventricular diameter, and baseline stress test duration. Measures of HRV (obtained from a 15-minute resting electrocardiogram) were the standard deviation of the mean RR interval (RRSD), the mean squared successive differences (MSSD), the percent of RR intervals differing >50 ms from the preceding one (pNN50), the low-(LF) and high-(HF) frequency components of the autoregressive power spectrum of the RR intervals and their ratio (LF/HF). Four weeks after AMI, there was less sympathetic predominance in groups 2 and 3 (i.e., patients taking β blockers [p <0.05]). Rehabilitation modified HRV in groups 1 and 2 (p <0.05), with signs of increased parasympathetic tone (group 1: MSSD +25%, pNN50 +69%, LF/HF −40%; group 2: MSSD +41%, pNN50 +48%, LF/HF −39%). These changes persisted in the long term. In group 3, HRV was unchanged over time. Hence, after AMI, the effects of rehabilitation and β blockers on HRV are not redundant: their association induces a more favorable sympathovagal balance, accelerating the recovery of a normal autonomic profile.

Occupational Therapy in Cardiac Rehabilitation: Resumption of Daily Life Activities

Comprehensive rehabilitation of the cardiac patient involves consideration of the patient's residual functional capacity and daily life routine. Occupational therapists play an important role in assisting individuals in the restoration of independence through functional activities. Phase I and II interventions may include self-care training, initiation of an exercise program, education in activity modification, energy conservation techniques, and stress management. With advances in technology and decreased length of stay, there is a greater need for the involvement of occupational therapists to assist in maximizing the functional level of individuals after cardiac events.

Physical training and relaxation therapy in cardiac rehabilitation assessed through a composite criterion for training outcome

One hundred fifty-six myocardial infarction patients were randomly assigned to either exercise plus relaxation and breathing therapy (treatment A, n = 76) or to exercise training only (treatment B, n = 80). Effects on exercise testing showed a more pronounced training bradycardia and a remarkable improvement in ST abnormalities in treatment A ( p < 0.005). A model was developed to integrate the various exercise parameters into a single measure for training benefit. Approximately half the patients showed a training success, with a more positive and less negative outcome in treatment A ( p = 0.09). The odds for failure were 0.25 for treatment A and 0.51 for treatment B (odds ratio: 2.04; 95% confidence interval, 0.94 to 4.6). Thus the risk of failure was reduced by half when relaxation was added to exercise training. These results indicate that exercise training is not successful in all MI patients and that relaxation therapy enhances training benefit.

Occupational Therapy in Cardiac Rehabilitation in France

SummaryNew area of occupational therapy in France: Cardiology.Occupational Therapy as a complement to the l'O.M.S. (W.H.O.) Programme.Aims of Occupational Therapy: - independence- remotivation towards “doing”- preparation for going back to workMethods: - graded activities- supervision- instructionIndications for Occupational Therapy in cardiac rehabilitation.