Effect of cardiac rehabilitation program on quality of life in patients with myocardial infarction in Hamadan

Cardiac rehabilitation programs (CRP) are recommended for all patients after surgery for myocardial infarction. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of an 8-week cardiac rehabilitation on quality of life and exercise capacity in patients after coronary bypass graft (CABG).

Patients were randomized into a training group (n = 30, mean age: 54.4 ± 7.8 years) and a control group (n = 30, mean age: 55.3 ± 5.7 years). After concluding baseline tests including exercise test, 6MWT, Beck anxiety and depression inventory and The Persian version of Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) used for data collection .The exercise group patients were enrolled in a supervised exercise and rehabilitation program, which included: stretching and warm-up exercise (10-15 min), endurance training (15-20 min), resistance training (10-15 min) and cool-down/relaxation exercise. Functional capacity was evaluated by six minute walking test (6MWT) and exercise test.

After 8 weeks of CRP, significant increases of VO2max as well as 6MWT were observed in the training group (P < 0.001). Patients increased their exercise time by 40.6%, VO2max by 31%, and distance during 6MWT by 39.5% whereas, no significant differences were found in the control group. Health-related quality of life increased in patients in physical functioning, vitality, social functioning, mental health scale, general health, pain and role-emotional scales.

Cardiac rehabilitation programs increase exercise capacity and improve quality of life in patients after cardiac surgery.