Effects of residential exercise training on heart rate recovery in coronary artery patients

The aims of the present study are twofold: 1) to investigate whether heart rate recovery (HRR) after a cycle ergometry test is affected by exercise training and 2) to test the ability of HRR to replicate the baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) changes that occur in response to an exercise training program in coronary artery patients. We randomized 82 coronary artery patients undergoing a residential cardiac rehabilitation program to an exercise training group (TR; n = 43) and an untrained group (UTR; n = 39). All of the patients underwent an exercise test before and after the rehabilitation program. HRR was recorded at the end of the 1st and 2nd min after exercise. BRS was determined at rest before and after treatment. HRR after the 2nd min was significantly improved in TR patients (-21.4 +/- 0.9 beats/min) compared with UTR patients (-17.8 +/- 1.2 beats/min) at the end of the training program. Improvement in HRR paralleled that in BRS in TR patients (from 3.2 +/- 0.3 to 5.3 +/- 0.8 ms/mmHg; P < 0.001), whereas no significant change was evident in UTR patients (from 3.5 +/- 0 to 4.0 +/- 0.4 ms/mmHg; P = 0.230). Our data show that HRR in the 2nd min after the cessation of a cycle ergometer exercise test increased in coronary artery patients after an exercise training period. This result confirms the positive effect induced by exercise training on HRR and extends the conclusions of previous studies to different modalities of exercise (i.e., cycle ergometer). HRR might provide an additional simple marker of the effectiveness of physical training programs in cardiac patients.     

康复运动对冠脉支架植入术后患者相关因素的影响

目的：研究心脏康复运动对冠脉支架植入术后患者血脂、血糖、体重指数及生活质量的影响。方法：对实施冠脉支架植入术的 146例患者进行比较分析，根据随机原则分为试验组76 例及对照组70 例。对照组患者给予常规的健康教育及冠心病二级预防指 导，给予定期随访。试验组患者在此基础上给予规律的康复运动指导。经过6 个月随访，比较两组患者血脂、HbA1C、体重指数及 生活质量情况。结果：试验组患者通过为期6 个月的规律的心脏康复运动指导，其血脂、HbA1C等冠心病危险因素控制情况优于 对照组，差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。同时，6个月后，试验组康复运动六月后sF 量表各项评分与对照组同期比较，差异均有统计 学意义(P<0.05)。结论：规范的心脏康复运动指导能够有效改善冠脉支架植入术后患者血脂、血糖情况，提高患者生活质量。     

Home-based aerobic interval training improves peak oxygen uptake equal to residential cardiac rehabilitation: a randomized, controlled trial

Aerobic capacity, measured as the peak oxygen uptake, is a strong predictor of survival in cardiac patients. Aerobic interval training (AIT), walking/running four times four minutes at 85-95% of peak heart rate, has proven to be effective in increasing peak oxygen uptake in coronary heart disease patients. As some patients do not attend organized rehabilitation programs, home-based exercise should be an alternative. We investigated whether AIT could be performed effectively at home, and compared the effects on peak oxygen uptake with that observed after a standard care, four-week residential rehabilitation. Thirty patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery were randomized to residential rehabilitation or home-based AIT. At six months follow-up, peak oxygen uptake increased 4.6 (±2.7) and 3.9 (±3.6) mL·kg(-1) min(-1) (both p<0.005, non-significant between-group difference) after residential rehabilitation and AIT, respectively. Quality of life increased significantly in both groups, with no statistical significant difference between groups. We found no evidence for a different treatment effect between patients randomized to home-based AIT compared to patients attending organized rehabilitation (95% confidence interval -1.8, 3.5). AIT patients reported good adherence to exercise training. Even though these first data indicate positive effects of home-based AIT in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery, more studies are needed to provide supporting evidence for the application of this rehabilitation strategy. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00363922.     

普罗布考联合家庭心脏康复训练对冠心病患者射血分数、血脂的影响分析

目的 探讨普罗布考联合家庭康复训练对冠心病患者射血分数及血脂水平的影响.方法 选择2018年6月 ～2020年6月我院收治的冠心病患者110例,按随机数字表法分成对照组和实验组,对照组给予瑞舒伐他汀治疗,实验组在对照组的基础上联合应用普罗布考及家庭康复训练.对两组患者治疗前及治疗后3个月的心功能指标、血脂水平进行检测比...     

运动康复训练对冠心病多支病变患者运动耐量及血脂的影响

目的:探讨运动康复训练对冠心病多支病变患者活动耐量及血脂的影响。方法:选取冠心病多支病变患者,所有患者均进行不完全血运重建术,分为运动康复训练组及对照组,运动康复训练组自术后第三日起治疗组进行运动康复训练,对照组对运动量无要求。3月后,测量两组患者血脂水平及6分钟步行试验,比较两组患者步行距离、心绞痛发作次数、运动至心绞痛出现时间、6分钟内累积运动时间及血脂水平。结果:经运动康复训练治疗3月后,治疗组6分钟步行距离、运动至心绞痛出现时间及运动累积时间较对照组均明显增加,发生心绞痛次数较对照组明显减少。运动康复训练组治疗后甘油三酯、总胆固醇及低密度脂蛋白水平较治疗前明显降低,对照组仅总胆固醇有所降低,甘油三酯及低密度脂蛋白水平较治疗前无统计学差异。结论:运动康复训练可减少冠心病多支病变患者心绞痛发作次数,增加患者运动耐量并调节血脂代谢。     

早期心脏康复对老年急性心肌梗死PCI术后心功能及心理状态的影响

摘要 目的：探讨早期心脏康复对老年急性心肌梗死（acute myocardial infarction, AMI）患者经皮冠状动脉介入（percutaneous coronary intervention, PCI）术后心功能及心理状态的影响。方法：2018年1月~2018年12月间成功实施PCI的62例老年AMI患者随机分为研究组（n=31）和对照组（n=31），同时选择30例健康体检者作为健康组。对照组按照《中国经皮冠状动脉介入治疗后康复程序》给予常规康复训练，研究组结合根据6 min步行试验（6min walking test, 6MWT）制定个性化的康复训练方案，包括院内、院外心脏康复干预、心理干预及随访，为期6个月。比较两组术后心功能、心理状态、终点事件的发生情况。结果：康复后6个月，两组左心室舒张末期内径(left ventricular end-diastolic diameter, LVEDD)、左室收缩末期内径（left ventricular end-systolic diameter, LVESD）、左心室射血分数(left ventricular ejection fraction, LVEF)各心功能指标均较康复前明显提高，且研究组明显优于对照组(P<0.05)。研究组康复后6个月LVEF与健康组比较，差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。康复后6个月，两组90项症状自评量表（symptom check list-90, SCL-90）各项目中除敌对、偏执外，其余项目评分均显降低，且研究组躯体化、强迫症状、抑郁、焦虑、精神病性显著低于对照组(P<0.05)。康复随访期间，研究组终点事件的总发生率9.7%，显著低于对照组25.8%，且6 min步行距离（6 min walking distance, 6MWD亦较对照组明显增加(P<0.05)。结论：早期心脏康复可明显促进老年AMI患者PCI术后心功能恢复，改善心理状态，降低术后不良终点事件发生风险。     

冠状动脉旁路移植术后患者I期心脏康复治疗临床研究

目的：研究冠状动脉旁路移植术（coronary artery bypass grafting, CABG）后患者I 期心脏康复治疗的临床效果。方法：选取我 院收治的行CABG患者44 例,采取数字随机法分成观察组和对照组,对照组给予常规康复治疗,观察组则在对照组基础上,给予 I期心脏康复治疗,比较两组临床效果。结果：观察组康复治疗后PF、GH、MH 水平均优于对照组,且康复治疗后PF、BP、GH水平 均优于术前,差异具有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。对照组康复治疗后PF、BP、GH、MH 水平均优于术前,差异具有统计学意义（P＜ 0.05）。结论：状动脉旁路移植术（CABG）后患者I 期心脏康复治疗的临床效果显著,是一种有效的综合性康复疗法。     

个体化康复运动训练联合八段锦运动对冠心病PCI术后患者心功能、生活质量和心境状态的影响

目的:观察个体化康复运动训练联合八段锦运动对冠心病患者经皮冠状动脉介入术(PCI)术后心功能、心境状态和生活质量的影响。方法:选取2017年9月-2018年9月期间来我院接受治疗的100例冠心病PCI术后患者,根据随机数字表法分为对照组和研究组,各50例。对照组患者在常规治疗的基础上接受个体化康复运动训练,研究组患者在对照组的基础上联合八段锦运动。观察两组心功能、生活质量和心境状态变化情况。统计两组6个月内心血管不良事件发生率。结果:干预后,两组患者6 min步行试验(6MWT)距离、左心室射血分数(LVEF)均较干预前升高,且研究组的变化程度优于对照组(P<0.05)。干预后,两组患者紧张-焦虑、抑郁-沮丧、愤怒-敌意、疲乏-迟钝、迷惑-混乱评分均较干预前下降,精力-活力、与自我有关的情绪评分较干预前升高,且研究组的变化程度优于对照组(P<0.05)。研究组6个月内的心血管不良事件发生率低于对照组,但是两组组间对比无统计学差异(P>0.05)。干预后,两组总体/精神健康、精力、情感/生理职能、躯体疼痛、生理/社会功能各维度评分升高,且研究组较对照组高(P<0.05)。结论:八段锦运动联合个体化康复运动训练可促进冠心病PCI术后患者心功能、生活质量和心境状态改善,同时还可控制心血管不良事件发生风险。     

Home-based versus hospital-based cardiac rehabilitation after myocardial infarction or revascularisation: design and rationale of the Birmingham Rehabilitation Uptake Maximisation Study (BRUM): a randomised controlled trial [ISRCTN72884263]

Background

Cardiac rehabilitation following myocardial infarction reduces subsequent mortality, but uptake and adherence to rehabilitation programmes remains poor, particularly among women, the elderly and ethnic minority groups. Evidence of the effectiveness of home-based cardiac rehabilitation remains limited. This trial evaluates the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of home-based compared to hospital-based cardiac rehabilitation.

Methods/design

A pragmatic randomised controlled trial of home-based compared with hospital-based cardiac rehabilitation in four hospitals serving a multi-ethnic inner city population in the United Kingdom was designed. The home programme is nurse-facilitated, manual-based using the Heart Manual. The hospital programmes offer comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation in an out-patient setting.

Patients

We will randomise 650 adult, English or Punjabi-speaking patients of low-medium risk following myocardial infarction, coronary angioplasty or coronary artery bypass graft who have been referred for cardiac rehabilitation.

Main outcome measures

Serum cholesterol, smoking cessation, blood pressure, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Score, distance walked on Shuttle walk-test measured at 6, 12 and 24 months. Adherence to the programmes will be estimated using patient self-reports of activity. In-depth interviews with non-attendees and non-adherers will ascertain patient views and the acceptability of the programmes and provide insights about non-attendance and aims to generate a theory of attendance at cardiac rehabilitation. The economic analysis will measure National Health Service costs using resource inputs. Patient costs will be established from the qualitative research, in particular how they affect adherence.

Discussion

More data are needed on the role of home-based versus hospital-based cardiac rehabilitation for patients following myocardial infarction and revascularisation, which would be provided by the Birmingham Rehabilitation Uptake Maximisation Study (BRUM) study and has implications for the clinical management of these patients. A novel feature of this study is the inclusion of non-English Punjabi speakers.     

Cost-Effectiveness of New Cardiac and Vascular Rehabilitation Strategies for Patients with Coronary Artery Disease

Objective

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) often hinders the cardiac rehabilitation program. The aim of this study was evaluating the relative cost-effectiveness of new rehabilitation strategies which include the diagnosis and treatment of PAD in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) undergoing cardiac rehabilitation.

Data Sources

Best-available evidence was retrieved from literature and combined with primary data from 231 patients.

Methods

We developed a Markov decision model to compare the following treatment strategies: 1. cardiac rehabilitation only; 2. ankle-brachial index (ABI) if cardiac rehabilitation fails followed by diagnostic work-up and revascularization for PAD if needed; 3. ABI prior to cardiac rehabilitation followed by diagnostic work-up and revascularization for PAD if needed. Quality-adjusted-life years (QALYs), life-time costs (US $), incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICER), and gain in net health benefits (NHB) in QALY equivalents were calculated. A threshold willingness-to-pay of $75 000 was used.

Results

ABI if cardiac rehabilitation fails was the most favorable strategy with an ICER of $44 251 per QALY gained and an incremental NHB compared to cardiac rehabilitation only of 0.03 QALYs (95% CI: −0.17, 0.29) at a threshold willingness-to-pay of $75 000/QALY. After sensitivity analysis, a combined cardiac and vascular rehabilitation program increased the success rate and would dominate the other two strategies with total lifetime costs of $30 246 a quality-adjusted life expectancy of 3.84 years, and an incremental NHB of 0.06 QALYs (95%CI:−0.24, 0.46) compared to current practice. The results were robust for other different input parameters.

Conclusion

ABI measurement if cardiac rehabilitation fails followed by a diagnostic work-up and revascularization for PAD if needed are potentially cost-effective compared to cardiac rehabilitation only.     

稳定期慢性阻塞性肺疾病患者家庭运动训练现状调查及其影响因素的Logistic回归分析

目的:探讨稳定期慢性阻塞性肺疾病(COPD)患者家庭运动训练现状调查及其影响因素的Logistic回归分析。方法:收集2018年1月～2019年12月期间于本院进行治疗的稳定期COPD患者172例为调查研究对象,根据患者家庭运动训练进行情况将患者分为非运动训练组和运动训练组,对两组患者的一般资料、临床资料等进行统计对比,并采用单因素和多因素Logistic回归分析对影响稳定期COPD患者家庭运动训练进行情况的因素进行分析探讨。结果:在随访调查中,有59例患者进行了家庭运动训练,运动康复训练的普及率为34.30%。经单因素分析,两组患者在性别、年龄、体质指数(BMI)、居住地、婚姻状况、基础疾病、职业对比无显著性差异(P0.05),而两组患者在住院次数、病程、文化程度、照顾情况、肺康复指导对比有显著性差异(P0.05)。经多因素Logistic回归分析显示,COPD患者的住院次数、病程、文化程度、照顾情况、肺康复指导是影响患者进行家庭运动训练的主要因素(P0.05)。结论:我院稳定期COPD患者随访期间家庭运动训练的普及率普遍偏低,且运动方式、强度、频率、规律性等均欠佳。运动训练现状受到患者的住院次数、病程长短、文化程度高低、有无照顾者、有无肺康复指导等因素影响。     

Intervention description is not enough: evidence from an in-depth multiple case study on the untold role and impact of context in randomised controlled trials of seven complex interventions

Background

Despite continual improvements in the management of acute coronary syndromes, adherence to guideline-based medications remains suboptimal. We aim to improve adherence with guideline-based therapy following acute coronary syndrome using an existing service that is provided by specifically trained pharmacists, called a Home Medicines Review. We have made two minor adjustments to target the focus of the existing service including an acute coronary syndrome specific referral letter and a training package for the pharmacists providing the service.

Methods/Design

We will be conducting a randomized controlled trial to compare the directed home medicines review service to usual care following acute coronary syndromes. All patients aged 18 to 80 years and with a working diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome, who are admitted to two public, acute care hospitals, will be screened for enrolment into the trial. Exclusion criteria will include: not being discharged home, documented cognitive decline, non-Medicare eligibility, and presence of a terminal malignancy. Randomization concealment and sequence generation will occur through a centrally-monitored computer program. Patients randomized to the control group will receive usual post-discharge care. Patients randomized to receive the intervention will be offered usual post-discharge care and a directed home medicines review at two months post-discharge. The study endpoints will be six and twelve months post-discharge. The primary outcome will be the proportion of patients who are adherent to a complete, guideline-based medication regimen. Secondary outcomes will include hospital readmission rates, length of hospital stays, changes in quality of life, smoking cessation rates, cardiac rehabilitation completion rates, and mortality.

Discussion

As the trial is closely based on an existing service, any improvements observed should be highly translatable into regular practice. Possible limitations to the success of the trial intervention include general practitioner approval of the intervention, general practitioner acceptance of pharmacists' recommendations, and pharmacists' ability to make appropriate recommendations. A detailed monitoring process will detect any barriers to the success of the trial. Given that poor medication persistence following acute coronary syndrome is a worldwide problem, the findings of our study may have international implications for the care of this patient group.

Trial registration

Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12611000452998     

TRAUMA OR STRAIN AND HEART DISEASE—Causal Relationship

Myocardial infarction and coronary insufficiency are the common conditions involved in workmen''s compensation cases based on allegations of cardiac injury. Since coronary disease tends to be a progressive process, punctuated by sudden accidents, it is difficult to determine when a given stress at work may have had a significant effect in producing an infarction. Though there are gaps in our knowledge, considerable information is available indicating the way in which effort or stress may produce a myocardial infarction.Certain states have taken steps to develop more uniformity of medical opinion regarding causal relationship of stress to heart disease, and in other ways have attempted to improve the application of workmen''s compensation laws in an attempt to provide fair and prompt compensation to those injured by their work but to discourage abuses of these laws.     

有氧康复运动对慢性心力衰竭患者心室重构及血管内皮功能的影响

目的:探讨有氧康复运动对慢性心力衰竭(chronic cardiac failure,CHF)患者心室重构及血管内皮功能的影响。方法:78例CHF患者随机分为运动组(n=39)、对照组(n=39)。对照组给予常规内科药物治疗、日常活动能力训练,运动组在此基础上根据美国心脏病学会(American Heart Association,AHA)的《三阶段康复运动方案》进行有氧康复运动,共持续12周。比较两组治疗前后心脏结构和功能、血管内皮功能及生活质量的改善情况。结果:干预后,两组左室收缩末期内径(left ventricular end systolic diameter,LVESD)、左室舒张末期内径(left ventricular end-diastolic diameter,LVEDD)、明尼苏达心衰生活质量(Minnesota Living With Heart Failure,MLHF)评分、血清内皮素-1(Endothelin-1,ET-1)、血管紧张素Ⅱ(angiotensin Ⅱ,Ang Ⅱ)水平均明显减小,左室射血分数(left ventricular ejection fraction,LVEF)、6分钟步行试验(6 minute walking test,6MWT)、血清一氧化氮(nitric oxide,NO)、降钙素基因相关肽(calcitonin gene-related peptide,CGRP)水平均明显升高,且运动组LVESD、LVEDD、MLHF评分、血清ET-1、Ang Ⅱ水平明显低于对照组,LVEF、6MWT、血清NO、CGRP水平明显高于对照组,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05)。运动组干预期间心衰再入院率显著低于对照组,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:有氧运动康复训练有助于改善CHF患者的血管内皮功能,延缓或逆转心室重构,提高生活质量,改善预后。     

Doctors and patients don't agree: cross sectional study of patients' and doctors' perceptions and assessments of disability in multiple sclerosis.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the judgments of clinicians on which domains of health in the short form questionnaire (SF-36) would be most important to patients with multiple sclerosis with the opinions of patients themselves; to compare assessment of physical disability in multiple sclerosis by a clinician using Kurtzke''s expanded disability status scale and a non-clinically qualified assistant using the Office of Population Census and Surveys'' (OPCS) disability scale with self assessment of disability and other domains of health related quality of life by patients using the SF-36 and the EuroQol questionnaire; and to compare the scores of patients for each domain of the SF-36 with control data matched for age and sex. DESIGN: Cross sectional study. SETTING: Clinical department of neurology, Edinburgh. SUBJECTS: 42 consecutive patients with multiple sclerosis attending a neurology outpatient clinic for review or a neurology ward for rehabilitation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Scores on the SF-36; EuroQol; Kurtzke''s expanded disability status scale; the OPCS disability scale. RESULTS: Patients and clinicians disagreed on which domains of health status were most important (chi 2 = 21, df = 7, P = 0.003). Patients'' assessment of their physical disability using the physical functioning domain of the SF-36 was highly correlated with the clinicians'' assessment (r = -0.87, P < 0.001) and the non-clinical assessment (r = -0.90, P < 0.001). However, none of the measures of physical disability correlated with overall health related quality of life measured with EuroQol, Quality of life correlated with vitality, general health, and mental health in the SF-36, each of which patients rated as more important than clinicians and for each of which patients scored lower than the controls. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with multiple sclerosis and possibly those with other chronic diseases are less concerned than their clinicians about physical disability in their illness. Clinical trials in multiple sclerosis should assess the effect of treatment on the other elements of health status that patients consider important, which are also affected by the disease process, are more closely related to overall health related quality of life, and may well be adversely affected by side effects of treatment.     

Exercise through a cardiac rehabilitation program attenuates oxidative stress in patients submitted to coronary artery bypass grafting*

Background: Cardiovascular disease is the main cause of morbidity and mortality in the world and oxidative stress has been implicated in the pathogenesis. Cardiac rehabilitation in patients with coronary artery disease submitted to coronary artery bypass grafting may prevent cardiovascular events probably through the attenuation of oxidative stress. The aim of this study was to evaluate the benefits of a cardiac rehabilitation program in the control of the systemic oxidative stress.

Methods: The studied population consisted of 40 patients, with chronic stable coronary artery disease submitted to coronary artery bypass grafting, who attended a cardiac rehabilitation program. Biomarkers of oxidative stress were evaluated in the blood of these patients at different moments.

Results: After the onset of cardiac rehabilitation, there was a significant and progressive decrease in thiobarbituric acid reactive substances levels and protein carbonyls, an initial increase and subsequent decrease in superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities. Also, a progressive increase of uric acid, while ferric reducing antioxidant power levels increased only at the end of the cardiac rehabilitation and a tendency to increase of glutathione contents.

Conclusions: The results suggest that regular exercise through a cardiac rehabilitation program can attenuate oxidative stress in chronic coronary artery disease patients submitted to coronary artery bypass grafting.     

Exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation in patients with coronary heart disease: a practice guideline

Background

To improve the quality of exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation (CR) in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) the CR guideline from the Dutch Royal Society for Physiotherapists (KNGF) has been updated. This guideline can be considered an addition to the 2011 Dutch Multidisciplinary CR guideline, as it includes several novel topics.

Methods

A systematic literature search was performed to formulate conclusions on the efficacy of exercise-based interventions during all CR phases in patients with CHD. Evidence was graded (1–4) according the Dutch evidence-based guideline development (EBRO) criteria. In case of insufficient scientific evidence, recommendations were based on expert opinion. This guideline comprised a structured approach including assessment, treatment and evaluation.

Results

Recommendations for exercise-based CR were formulated covering the following topics: preoperative physiotherapy, mobilisation during the clinical phase, aerobic exercise, strength training, and relaxation therapy during the outpatient rehabilitation phase, and adoption and monitoring of a physically active lifestyle after outpatient rehabilitation.

Conclusions

There is strong evidence for the effectiveness of exercise-based CR during all phases of CR. The implementation of this guideline in clinical practice needs further evaluation as well as the maintenance of an active lifestyle after supervised rehabilitation.     

Peak Oxygen Uptake after Cardiac Rehabilitation: A Randomized Controlled Trial of a 12-Month Maintenance Program versus Usual Care

Background

Exercise capacity is a strong predictor of survival in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Exercise capacity improves after cardiac rehabilitation exercise training, but previous studies have demonstrated a decline in peak oxygen uptake after ending a formal rehabilitation program. There is a lack of knowledge on how long-term exercise adherence can be achieved in CAD patients. We therefore assessed if a 12-month maintenance program following cardiac rehabilitation would lead to increased adherence to exercise and increased exercise capacity compared to usual care.

Materials and Methods

Two-centre, open, parallel randomized controlled trial with 12 months follow-up comparing usual care to a maintenance program. The maintenance program consisted of one monthly supervised high intensity interval training session, a written exercise program and exercise diary, and a maximum exercise test every third month during follow-up. Forty-nine patients (15 women) on optimal medical treatment were included following discharge from cardiac rehabilitation. The primary endpoint was change in peak oxygen uptake at follow-up; secondary endpoints were physical activity level, quality of life and blood markers of cardiovascular risk.

Results

There was no change in peak oxygen uptake from baseline to follow-up in either group (intervention group 27.9 (±4.7) to 28.8 (±5.6) mL·kg (-1) min (−1), control group 32.0 (±6.2) to 32.8 (±5.8) mL·kg (−1) min (−1), with no between-group difference, p = 0.22). Quality of life and blood biomarkers remained essentially unchanged, and both self-reported and measured physical activity levels were similar between groups after 12 months.

Conclusions

A maintenance exercise program for 12 months did not improve adherence to exercise or peak oxygen uptake in CAD patients after discharge from cardiac rehabilitation compared to usual care. This suggests that infrequent supervised high intensity interval training sessions are inadequate to improve peak oxygen uptake in this patient group.

Trial Registration

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