RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To observe the prognostic influences of the cardiac rehabilitation (CR) program in Korean acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients during the first year after an occurrence of the disease. METHOD: A total of 141 AMI patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were recruited consecutively for this study and divided into the CR group and the control group. The CR group completed the phase 2 CR program in the hospital for a period of 6-8 weeks and maintained self-exercise in their community by exercise prescription for a year after AMI. We performed a prospective comparison of the patients' demographic data, high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) level after the 4-month CR program, and the rate of recurrence (AMI, re-hospitalization, positive coronary angiogram, needed revascularization procedure, or death) between the two groups. RESULTS: Compared to the control group (0.33±0.48 mg/dl), the hs-CRP level was lower in the CR group (0.18±0.32 mg/dl) after 4 months of exercise. The recurrence rate was lower (10%, 7/69) in the CR group, compared to the control group (24%, 17/72, p<0.05). The number of disease-free days was larger in the CR group (354±38.34), compared to the control group (316±99.96, p<0.05). In a comparison of statistical methods used for testing the equality of two survivor distributions, the CR group showed a lower recurrence rate than the control group (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Participation in the CR program designed for AMI patients who underwent PCI-induced normalization of the serum hs-CRP level and lowering of the recurrence rate by 14% during the first year.
RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To determine if an early regular cardiac rehabilitation program would have an adverse effect on myocardial function after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). METHOD: Patients who received percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) after AMI were divided into the exercise group and control group in accordance with their willingness to participate. Patients in the exercise group (n=18) received ECG monitored exercise for six weeks and were instructed to maintain self exercise in their communities for four months. The control group (n=16) patients were just instructed of risk factor control. All the subjects underwent echocardiography at the time of the AMI as well as six months later. The echocardiography parameters, including the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), stroke volume (SV), left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD) and end-systolic diameter (LVESD), were measured. RESULTS: In the exercise group, the LVEF increased to 59.58±9.24% and 61.58±9.63% after six weeks and six months, respectively (p<0.05), but SV, LVEDD and LVESD did not change (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Active participation in the cardiac rehabilitation program approximately two weeks after AMI did not have an adverse effect on the size of the left ventricle and myocardial function.