ABSTRACT
Objective:To analyze the effects of exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation (ER) on patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), and to identify which type of ACS patients would benefit most in terms of cardiovascular functional capacity after ER. Methods:From December, 2017 to July, 2019, 31 ACS patients who discharged in a stable situation after PCI were studied. All patients were referred to a three-month ER program after discharge. They were divided into normal wall motion group (normal group, n = 14) and abnormal regional wall motion group (abnormal group, n = 17) according to baseline myocardial wall motion reported by echocardiography. The degree of wall motion abnormalities was quantified by the wall motion score index (WMSI). Echocardiography and cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) were performed before and after ER. Results:Eight patients were dropped, and 23 patients completed the trial. WMSI decreased in the abnormal group (Z = -2.852, P = 0.004), and the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) didn't change in both groups (P > 0.05) after ER. CPET showed that the heart rate at rest decreased in the normal group after ER (t = -2.268, P = 0.047); and the peak work rate, peak oxygen uptake, percentage of predicted value of peak oxygen uptake, peak minute ventilation and the third minute heart rate recovery increased in the abnormal group after ER (t > 2.739, P < 0.05). Conclusion:ER during recovery period could help more improve the cardiac function and exercise tolerance of ACS patients with abnormal WMSI after PCI. WMSI is an important indicator of cardiac function in ACS patients with preserved ejection fraction.
ABSTRACT
<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>The Borg scale is most commonly used to measure dyspnea in China. However, many patients that find it is difficult to distinguish the labeled numbers corresponding to different dyspnea scores. We developed a new method to rate dyspnea, which we call the count scale (CS). It includes the count scale number (CSN) and count scale time (CST). The aims of the present study were to determine the reproducibility and sensitivity of the CS during exercise in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fourteen male patients with COPD (aged 58.00 ± 7.72 years) participated in this study. A progressive incremental exercise and a 6-minute constant work exercise test were performed every 2 to 3 days for a total of 3 times. The CS results were evaluated at rest and at 30% and 70% of maximal workload (Wmax) and Wmax. The Borg scales were obtained during exercise.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>No significant differences occurred across the three trials during exercise for the CS and Borg scores. The CSN and CST were more varied at Wmax (coefficient of variation (CV) = (22.28 ± 16.96)% for CSN, CV = (23.08 ± 19.11)% for CST) compared to 30% of Wmax (CV = (11.92 ± 8.78)% for CSN, CV = (11.16 ± 9.96)% for CST) and 70% of Wmax (CV = (9.08 ± 7.09)% for CSN, CV = (12.19 ± 12.32)% for CST). Dyspnea ratings with either CSN or CST tended to decrease at the higher workload compared to the lower workload. CSN and CST scores were highly correlated (r = 0.861, P < 0.001). CSN was negatively correlated with Borg scores (r = -0.363, P = 0.001). Similar results were obtained for the relationship between CST and Borg scores (r = -0.345, P = 0.003).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>We concluded that the CS is simple and reproducible when measuring dyspnea during exercise in patients with COPD.</p>