Functional, pulmonary, metabolic and quality of life responses after cardiovascular rehabilitation program

Abstract

Background: clinical trials showed improvement in functional capacity, quality of life, morbidity and mortality with cardiovascular rehabilitation (CVR). Objective: to verify clinical responses of a CVR program in a tertiary center. Methods: 85 patients evaluated in a CVR program. Results for functional capacity obtained by cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET), sitting rising chair test (SRCT), six minute step test (6MST), inspiratory pressure (Pins), expiratory pressure (Pexp), peak-flow and quality of life score (Minnesota Living With Heart Failure Quality of Life Score - MLWHFS) were compared before and after the program. Results: 69% were men, mean age was 61 ± 15 years and the mean ejection fraction was 61 ± 24%. There was an absolute mean increase of 2.4 ± 3.5 ml -1.kg -1.min -1 in peak VO2 (p <0.001), 14 ± 17 repetitions on the SRCT (p <0.001), 44 ± 41 steps on the 6MST (p <0.001). In pulmonary function, there was an increase of -20 ± 40 cmH2O in Pins (p <0.01) and of 9 ± 29 cmH2O (p <0.001) in Pexp and 52 ± 77 L.min-1 in peak-flow (p <0.01) and there was a significant gain in quality of life with a mean reduction of 21 ± 15 points in the MLWHFS (P <0.001). Conclusion: CVR program resulted in a increase in functional, pulmonary capacity and improvement of quality of life. These data reproduce and reinforce the findings of randomized clinical trials, but in a real and uncontrolled clinical setting.