Hesperidin reduces depressive symptoms in post-coronary artery bypass graft patients with mild depression.

Previous studies have shown that hesperidin may have beneficial effects on depression; however, to the best of our knowledge, no clinical trial has yet been conducted in this area. The aim of the present study was, therefore, to determine the effects of hesperidin on depression, serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and serum cortisol levels in post-coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) patients. Toward this goal, 73 post-CABG patients with depression symptoms were enrolled. The participants were randomly divided into two groups to receive either 200 mg/day hesperidin (n = 38) or placebo (n = 35) for 12 weeks. Depressive symptoms, serum BDNF, and cortisol levels were then assessed at the baseline and after intervention. Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) was also used to determine the severity of depression. Sixty-six patients completed the trial. Hesperidin decreased depression severity after 12 weeks, as compared to placebo (p = .004), but serum BDNF and cortisol were not statistically significantly different in the two groups after the intervention. Subgroup analyses also showed that, while in the patients with mild depression, the score of BDI-II was significantly different in the hesperidin and placebo groups after intervention; there was no difference in the severity of depression between the two groups in patients with moderate-to-severe depression. To conclude, a dose of 200 mg/day hesperidin may reduce depressive symptoms after 12 weeks in post-CABG patients with mild depression.

Hesperidin reduces serum levels of triglyceride after coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

Hesperidin, as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent, has beneficial effects on cardiovascular diseases. This study aimed to determine the effects of hesperidin supplementation on inflammation, oxidative stress, and lipid profile in depressed coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) patients. Eighty patients after coronary artery bypass graft surgery participated in this clinical trial and were randomly divided into two groups. The intervention group received 200 mg/d pure hesperidin supplement and the second group received placebo for 12 weeks. Both groups continued their usual diet. Serum concentrations of inflammatory and stress oxidative markers (hs-CRP, P-selectin, and ox-LDL) were measured and compared at baseline and the end of the intervention. The changes in serum levels of triglyceride were significantly different between the two groups (p < .05). HDL-c significantly increased in groups but the differences between the two groups were not statistically significant (p > .05). Hesperidin did not affect FBS, other lipid parameters, hs-CRP, P-selectin, and OX-LDL (p > .05). SBP and DBP differences were not statistically significant (p > .05). After 12 weeks of intervention, hesperidin reduced serum levels of triglyceride in depressed post-CABG patients.

Impact of high intensity interval and moderate continuous training on plasma ratios of ProBNP1-108/BNP1-32 and NT-pro-BNP1-76/BNP1-32 after coronary artery bypass grafting surgery.

Background: ProBNP1-108/BNP1-32, and NT-pro-BNP1-76/BNP1-32 ratios are significant indices for predicting complications after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery. However, the effect of aerobic training types on these biomarkers has not been fully understood. So, the current study aimed to determine the impact of aerobic interval and continuous training programs on plasma ratios of ProBNP1-108/BNP1-32 and NT-pro-BNP1-76/BNP1-32 after coronary artery bypass grafting surgery. Method: 36 patients were selected purposive (27 men and 9 women with mean of age 60.32 ± 5.81 years, height 164.64 ± 9.25 cm, weight 73.86 ± 14.23 kg, fat 32.30 ± 4.28, SBP 142.67 ± 6.49, DBP 84.5 ± 5.16 mmHg in seated position at rest situation and functional capacity of 7.08 ± 2.49 METs) and then divided randomly into three groups: control (C) group (without training program) moderate continuous training (MCT) and high intensity interval training (HIIT) (exercise training program was performed 3 days/week for 8 weeks) with intensities 65%-80% and 80%-95% of reserve heart rate in order. Blood samples were taken 48 h before the first session and 48 h after the last training session to measure the plasma levels of ProBNP1-108, corin enzyme, BNP1-32, and NT-pro-BNP1-76 using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique. Wilcoxin and kruskal wallis tests were used for analyzing data. Results: The plasma corin enzyme was increased, and the ratios of proBNP1-108/BNP1-32 and NT-pro-BNP1-76/BNP1-32 were reduced in both training groups in compared with control group (p = 0.004, p = 0000, p = 0.016, p = 0.003, p = 0.009, and p = 0.016) when there was no significant difference was found between training groups (p = 0.074, p = 450, and p = 0.295). Conclusion: Both high intensity interval training and moderate continuous training in compared with inactivity have positive effects on ratios of ProBNP1-108/BNP1-32, NT-pro-BNP1-76/BNP1-32 and could be effective to promote the health of coronary arteries and prevention of HF in post-CABG patients.

Correlation Between the 6-Min Walk Test and Exercise Tolerance Test in Cardiac Rehabilitation After Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting: A Cross-sectional Study.

INTRODUCTION: Exercise capacity and quality of life are the main outcomes in cardiac rehabilitation (CR). Exercise capacity is one of the important prognostic and diagnostic measures acquired by the exercise tolerance test (ETT). The 6-min walk test (6MWT), as a functional walking test, is another tool for assessing exercise capacity. METHODS: Eighty postoperative coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) participants admitted to three CR units were recruited for this cross-sectional and multicenter study, based on convenient non-probability sampling. All participants performed an ETT and two repeated 6MWTs. Maximum heart rate (HR), maximum blood pressure (BP), maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), and peak metabolic equivalents of tasks (MET) during the tests and also the 6-min walk distance (6MWD) were the outcome measures. RESULTS: The mean age of all participants was 62.13 (7.12) years and 80% were male. Pearson correlation showed that maximum HR (r(78) = 0.67, P < 0.001) and maximum systolic BP (r(78) = 0.57, P < 0.001) during the 6MWT correlated moderately with those achieved during ETT. Maximum HR in the 6MWT corresponded to 86% of that achieved during ETT. The 6MWD showed a strong positive correlation with peak MET estimated during ETT as a measure of exercise capacity (r = 0.77, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The results from this study suggest that the 6MWT is a valid tool for assessing functional capacity for prescribing exercise in a group of postoperative CABG participants admitted to CR units. This finding is helpful for healthcare professionals and for patients, as the test is easy to administer and also well tolerated by patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: PHT-9923.

Effects of Enhanced External Counterpulsation on Heart Rate Recovery in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease.

Background: Enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) reduces angina pectoris, extends time to exercise-induced ischemia, and improves quality of life in patients with symptomatic stable angina. We aimed to evaluate the effects of EECP on heart rate recovery in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods: Between January 2011 and March 2013, a total of 34 consecutive patients (24 male, 70.6%) with symptomatic CAD, who were candidated for EECP, prospectively received 35 sessions of 1-hour EECP therapy per day, 6 days per week. The patients underwent echocardiography and a symptom-limited modified Bruce exercise test before and after EECP. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), resting and peak exercise heart rates, systolic blood pressure, heart rate at 1 and 2 minutes of recovery, exercise duration, workload, and first- and second-minute heart rate recovery were measured before EECP and compared with those after EECP. Results: The mean age of the patients (70.6% men) was 64.82 ± 8.28 years. After EECP, exercise duration increased significantly from 6.48 ± 2.76 minutes to 9.20 ± 2.71 minutes (p value < 0.001). Maximum workload increased significantly (4.44 ± 1.28 vs. 5.65 ± 1.77 METS; p value < 0.001). The LVEF increased from 42.65 ± 11.82% to 44.26 ± 11.86% (p value < 0.001). The resting systolic blood pressure decreased significantly from 125.59 ± 22.35 mmHg to 116.26 ± 14.93 mmHg (p value = 0.013). The increase in the first- and second-minute heart rate recovery after EECP was not statistically significant. Conclusion: The results of the present study showed that exercise duration, maximum workload, and the LVEF might increase significantly after EECP. The increase in the first- and second-minute heart rate recovery after EECP was not statistically significant.

Predictors of early return to work after a coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG).

OBJECTIVES: Identifying factors predictive of early return to work in patients who underwent a coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Two hundred twenty-six working patients who volunteered and underwent a primary coronary artery bypass surgery between September 2013 and May 2014 were selected for the study and followed up for 6 months. Predictors of early return to work (RTW) (within 2 months) were analyzed from variables in a prospectively collected database and the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) questionnaire carried out in the hospital and rehabilitation center as well as from the follow-up performed via the phone. RESULTS: One hundred and two (45.1%) and 155 (68.9%) patients returned to work within 2 and 3 months after the surgery, respectively. Furthermore, 196 patients (87.1%) returned to work within 6 months after the surgery. In the univariate analysis, demographic or socioeconomic factors (such as age, level of education, income), occupational factors (such as occupation type, working hours per week, duration of the preoperative absence from work), psychological factors (such as a patient's concern about adverse health effects of RTW, feeling depressed, a patient's attitude towards his/her ability to RTW and a patient's perception of his/her job stress level) and medical factors (such as serum troponin T and creatine kinase MB (CKMB) level, pump time in surgery, co-surgery and dyslipidemia history) had a statistically significant correlation with early return to work. The patients who early returned to work had significantly higher scores in 3 domains on the SF-36 questionnaire (used for assessing the patients' quality of life), compared to those who did not return to work early (including physical functioning, role limitations due to physical health and pain). CONCLUSIONS: In the present study we identified 4 new medical factors that could be used as predictors of early return to work after CABG. These factors are: normal serum troponin T level, shorter pump time in surgery, normal mean arterial pressure (MAP) before the surgery and higher serum magnesium (Mg) levels. Int J Occup Med Environ Health 2016;29(6):947-957.

Effect of Enhanced External Counterpulsation (EECP) on Exercise Time Duration and Functional Capacity in Patients with Refractory Angina Pectoris.

BACKGROUND: Enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) is a noninvasive technique used for patients with refractory angina pectoris. There are controversial data on the effectiveness of EECP in improving patients with refractory stable angina. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of EECP for the treatment of patients with refractory angina pectoris. METHODS: Twenty consecutive patients with refractory angina pectoris were treated with EECP, and their symptoms, echocardiographic measures, treadmill exercise test parameters, and Canadian Cardiovascular Society Class were evaluated before and immediately after EECP. The patients were followed up for 6months post treatment. RESULTS: There were significant differences regarding total exercise time before and after treatment (p value < 0.001). The patients showed a significant reduction in angina classes III and IV immediately after EECP (p value < 0.001); for most of the patients, these beneficial effects were sustained for 6 months (p value = 0.010). There was no significant improvement in the echocardiographic parameters. CONCLUSION: EECP decreased symptoms and increased total exercise time in our study population. These beneficial effects were sustained for 6 months.

Evaluation of the effect of cardiac rehabilitation on left ventricular diastolic and systolic function and cardiac chamber size in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.

BACKGROUND: Exercise and rehabilitation are important methods for decreasing the risk factors of coronary artery disease (CAD). We aimed to evaluate the effect of the cardiac rehabilitation (CR) exercise program on the cardiac structure and physiology in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS: In this randomized controlled study, 146 patients with CAD were divided equally into two groups: case group (undertaking CR after PCI) and control group (without rehabilitation after PCI). All the patients in the case group underwent echocardiography (before and after CR), and echocardiography was performed for the control group simultaneously. The CR exercise program encompassed 24 sessions, twice or three times a week, with each session lasting between 15 and 45 minutes, depending on the individual patient's tolerance. Left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction, LV diastolic function, LV end-systolic and diastolic diameter, and right ventricular (RV) end-diastolic diameter were measured in the CR group before and after rehabilitation and compared to those in the control group at the same times. RESULTS: In this study, 146 patients (46 female and 100 male) were evaluated: 73 in the rehabilitation group and 73 in the control group. The mean age of the patients in the CR and control groups was 58.05 ± 10.27 and 56.76 ± 10.07 years, respectively. The CR exercise program had useful effects on LV diastolic function after PCI. The distribution of LV diastolic dysfunction after the CR exercise program was changed significantly only in the CR group (p value = 0.043). In the CR group, normal, grade I, grade II, and grade III LV diastolic dysfunction were observed in 20.5%, 69.8%, 6.8%, and 2.7%, respectively. This distribution was changed respectively to 30.1%, 61.6%, 5.4%, and 2.7% following CR, which showed a significant improvement due to CR in LV diastolic function, most prominently in the patients with grade I diastolic dysfunction (p value = 0.390). There was no significant change in LV and RV diameter before and after rehabilitation, while the ejection fraction increased significantly (p value < 0.05) in both groups. CONCLUSION: The RC exercise program can be effective in the augmentation of LV diastolic dysfunction after PCI, without significant changes in LV diameters.

The effects of phase III cardiac rehabilitation in serum and salivary Hs-CRP and anthropometric measurements in patients with coronary artery disease.

AIM: Cardiac rehabilitation is a key part in the treatment of coronary artery disease (CAD) by its anti-infammatory effects. However, the effect of exercise training programs on salivary concentrations of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in patients with coronary artery disease has not been well studied. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of phase III cardiac rehabilitation on serum and salivary levels of hs-CRP, in relation to the anthropometric measurements of obesity and the relationship between salivary and serum levels of hs-CRP in CAD male patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty male volunteers (45-75 years) with CAD participated in 6 to 8 weeks of moderate intensity aerobic exercise training consisting of 45 minutes sessions of treadmill, stationary bicycle and arm ergometer. Anthropometric measurements of obesity, serum level of hs-CRP, stimulated and nonstimulated salivary level of hs-CRP were measured at the beginning, in the middle and at the end of exercise sessions. RESULTS: All anthropometric measurements increased (p < 0.05) following cardiac rehabilitation except waist-hip ratio. Serum hs-CRP level reduced by 36% independent to the anthropometric measurements changes. Stimulated and nonstimulated salivary hs-CRP level decreased 68 and 54%, respectively, after 24 sessions of cardiac rehabilitation. Nonstimulated salivary hs-CRP levels correlated to serum levels of hs-CRP at baseline and after 24 sessions (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Phase III cardiac rehabilitation seems to be effective to improve serum and salivary hs-CRP concentrations independent of anthropometric measurements. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Nonstimulated salivary hs-CRP measurement could be a surrogate for blood measurement of hs-CRP during cardiac rehabilitation in male patients with CAD.

Effect of exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation following coronary artery bypass surgery on ventricular repolarization indices.

PURPOSE: Indices of ventricular repolarization heterogeneity are associated with future arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. We investigated the effect of exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation (CR) on these indices in a sample of Iranian patients. METHODS: Patients (N 122), who had undergone coronary artery bypass surgery (CABGS), were enrolled in this cohort study. Sixty patients attended 15 or more sessions of CR (CR group) and the remaining 62 patients attended 5 or fewer sessions of CR (control group). A standard 12-lead electrocardiogram was recorded for each patient. QT interval dispersion (QTd), RR interval variability (RRV), and heart rate-corrected QTd (QTc-d) were measured 3 times as follow: just before surgery, at the beginning of the first session of the CR program, and at the end of the 15th session for the CR group or the last session for the control group. RESULTS: Following completion of the exercise-training program, the CR group showed a significant decrease in QTd (Δ = -49.4%, P < .0001) and QTc-d (Δ = 52.8%, P .0001), but not in the control group (Δ = 13.4% and 17.9%, respectively, P > .05 for both). In both groups, no statistically significant change in RRV was observed. After adjustment for variables such as age, gender, digoxin use, ß-blocker use, and prerehabilitation ejection fraction, CR remained the independent predictor of QTd and QTc-d. CONCLUSION: Results suggest that cardiac rehabilitation and exercise training programs significantly improve the indices of ventricular repolarization heterogeneity in patients with coronary artery disease who received CABGS.

Baseline Systolic Blood Pressure Response to Exercise Stress Test Can Predict Exercise Indices following Cardiac Rehabilitation Program.

BACKGROUND: Systolic blood pressure recovery (rSBP) is of prognostic value for predicting the survival and co-morbidity rate in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). This study investigated the association between rSBP and exercise indices after complete cardiac rehabilitation program (CR) in a population-based sample of patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). METHODS: The sample population consisted of 352 patients who underwent pure CABG. The patients underwent standard symptom-limited exercise testing immediately before and also after the completion of the CR sessions. rSBP was defined as the ratio of the systolic blood pressure at 3 minutes in recovery to the systolic blood pressure at peak exercise. RESULTS: An abnormal baseline rSBP after exercise was a strong predictor of exercise parameters in the last session, including metabolic equivalents (ß = -0.617, SE = 0.127, p value < 0.001) and peak O2 consumption (ß = -1.950, SE = 0.363, p value < 0.001) measured in the last session adjusted for baseline exercise characteristics, demographics, function class, and left ventricular ejection fraction. CONCLUSION: The current study strongly emphasizes the predictive role of baseline rSBP after exercise in evaluating exercise parameters following CR. This baseline index can predict abnormal METs value, peak O2 consumption, post-exercise heart rate, and heart rate recovery after a 24-session CR program.

Effect of gender and type 2 diabetes mellitus on heart rate recovery in patients with coronary artery disease after cardiac rehabilitation.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to clarify whether type 2 diabetic patients with coronary disease are subject to similar benefits in heart rate recovery (HRR) as non-diabetic counterpatrs after cardiac rehabilitation, assessing men and women subjects separately. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The data used for this analysis were from an eight-week, phase-II cardiac rehabilitation including 284 patients with ischaemic heart disease who were managed at Tehran Heart Centre between July 2004 and January 2006. The heart rate parameters were compared between diabetic and non-diabetic patients before and after cardiac rehabilitation. Diabetic and non-diabetic patients had similar age and left ventricular ejection fraction. RESULTS: Among men, the non-diabetic patients achieved a greater improvement in peak heart rate and heart rate recovery (HRR). Additionally, lower resting heart rate was found in nondiabetic men after rehabilitation. In the women >or= 50 years old, there was no significant difference between diabetic and non-diabetic. The non-diabetic women < 50 years old showed significantly higher peak heart rate and HRR compared with diabetic women. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that the benefit of cardiac rehabilitation in HRR is significantly lower in type 2 diabetic men. Improvement of HRR is not associated with diabetic status in women >/= 50 years old. The response to cardiac rehabilitation in women may appear to be influenced more by age at menopause rather than diabetes mellitus.

Factors predicting discontinuation of a hospital-based cardiac rehabilitation programme.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programmes play an important role in the management of patients with coronary artery disease. However, a significant proportion of patients do not participate or do not complete CR. AIM: To asses the prevalence and predictors of discontinuation of a hospital-based CR programme and to investigate whether or not the completers and dropouts differed in relation to their baseline characteristics. METHODS: Data used for analysis were from a hospital-based CR programme involving 1986 discharged patients at Tehran Heart Centre between July 2004 and January 2006. The patients who completed all 24 sessions of the CR programme were compared with the dropouts. RESULTS: The CR completion rate was 18.1% (average of 11.4+/-8.1, ranging from 1 to 78 sessions) including patients who completed 24 (n=284) or more sessions (n=77) of the CR programme. Factors predicting dropout were male gender (OR 1.441, p=0.0094), younger age (OR 0.979, p=0.005), and lower levels of education (OR 0.412, p <0.0001). CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrated a relatively high rate of CR programme dropout. Only less than a fifth of the patients completed this hospital-based programme. Patients who were male and younger and had lower education levels were better likely to drop out of the CR programme. Social support and educational programmes may be helpful in achieving better compliance.

Effect of completion of cardiac rehabilitation on heart rate recovery.

To evaluate the effects of a cardiac rehabilitation program on heart rate recovery after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, a historical cohort study was performed on 436 patients of whom 285 were grouped on completion of 5, 10, or 24 training sessions. All 3 groups showed significant improvements in heart rate recovery, peak heart rate during treadmill testing, and end-training heart rate, from baseline to follow-up. Heart rate recovery on follow-up correlated significantly with the number of completed exercise sessions. The number of sessions, baseline ejection fraction, and age were independent predictors of mean post-training heart rate recovery. The cardiac rehabilitation program had a significant effect on peak heart rate and heart rate recovery, regardless of the underlying characteristics of the patients.