Survey the effect of aerobic exercise on aerobic capacity in patients with coronary artery disease [CAD]

ABSTRACT

Increased aerobic exercise capacity appears to reduce both all-cause mortality and cardiovascular disease mortality. Physical exercise to improve maximal oxygen consumption [VO2max] is thus strongly recommended, however evidence regarding the most efficient training intensity for patients with coronary artery disease [CAD] is still lacking. The purpose of this randomized study was to assess the effects of aerobic exercise for increasing VO2max in stable CAD-patients. Thirty stable CAD-patients were randomized to supervised walking 30 min three times a week for 10 weeks. Before and after training VO2max was predicted from Bruce treadmill test. Before training VO2max was 35.2 +/- 4.32ml/kg/min and after training the mean Vo2max was 43.1 +/- 3.4ml/kg/min. This difference was significant [p<0.05]. Aerobic exercise is effective for increasing VO2max in stable CAD-patients. As VO2max seems to reflect a continuum between health and cardiovascular disease and death, the present data may be useful in designing effective training programmes for improved health in the future