The Effect of a Cardiac Rehabilitation Period on Changes in BDNF Levelsand Functional Capacity in Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction

Acute myocardial infarction refers to a reduction or amputation of coronaryartery circulation leading to myocardial necrosis. BDNF is expressed in atherosclerotic arteries, vascularsmooth muscle, and endothelial cells and is involved in angiogenesis, the inflammatory response, andapoptosis of myocardial regeneration after infarction. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect ofa cardiac rehabilitation period on changes in BDNF levels and functional capacity in patients with acutemyocardial infarction.

The present study was performed on 30 men with acute coronary syndrome witha pretest-posttest design and the samples were randomly divided into experimental and control groups.The experimental group performed a cardiac rehabilitation program for 6 weeks. The control group didnot perform any training during this period. Before and after the rehabilitation program, BDNF levelswere measured by the American Diaplus Kit in terms of picograms per milliliter and participants’ functionalcapacity by a modified Bruce test. Analysis of covariance was used to compare BDNF levels andfunctional capacity of cardiac rehabilitation and control groups.

Data were analyzed by covariance. the results showed that cardiac rehabilitation training had asignificant effect on increasing BDNF levels and functional capacity (P≤0.05).

Based on this study, it can be said that cardiac rehabilitation exercise program can play animportant role in improving the physical and physiological condition of patients with acute myocardialinfarction. Data were analyzed by covariance and the results showed that cardiac rehabilitation traininghad a significant effect on increasing BDNF levels and functional capacity (P≤0.05). In general, it can besaid that cardiac rehabilitation exercise program can play an important role in improving the physical andphysiological condition of patients with acute myocardial infarction.