Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Vilela, Eduardo Matos
• Ladeiras Lopes, Ricardo
• Torres, Susana
• João, Ana
• Ribeiro, Jose
• Primo, João
• Fontes-Carvalho, Ricardo
• Campos, Lilibeth
• Miranda, Fatima
• Nunes, José Pedro L.
• Teixeira, Madalena
• Braga, Pedro

Titel

Differential Impact of a Cardiac Rehabilitation Program on Functional Parameters in Elderly versus Non-Elderly Myocardial Infarction Survivors

Ist Teil von

• Cardiology, 2020-02, Vol.145 (2), p.98-105

Ort / Verlag

Basel, Switzerland

Erscheinungsjahr

2020

Quelle

Alma/SFX Local Collection

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• Background: Exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation (EBCR) plays a pivotal role in the management of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Studies have shown that older individuals have a worse prognosis after an AMI, attesting to the importance of risk reduction strategies. We aimed at assessing the impact of age (patients dichotomized as ≥65 years old or <65 years old) on the functional benefits of an EBCR program among AMI survivors. Design: Observational, retrospective cohort study. Participants: All patients admitted due to an AMI who completed a phase II EBCR program after discharge, between November 2012 and April 2017. Intervention: EBCR program. Measurements: Functional parameters were assessed by a symptom-limited cardiopulmonary exercise test. Results: A total of 379 patients were included (30% aged ≥65 years). After the EBCR program, peak oxygen uptake (pVO 2 ) and exercise duration increased significantly. Patients aged ≥65 years presented with more comorbidities and a lower functional capacity. Those aged ≥65 years presented significantly smaller improvements in pVO 2 (0.79 ± 2.61 vs. 1.60 ± 3.11 mL/kg/min, p = 0.016) and exercise duration [75 (59–120) vs. 120 s (60–180), p = 0.002]. This was maintained after adjusting for several potential confounders. Conclusion: Older patients have a worse functional capacity than their younger counterparts. Still, a contemporary EBCR program was associated with significant functional improvements among those aged ≥65 years. The smaller improvements even after adjustments for potential confounders suggest that physiological differences may contribute to this finding. These results highlight the relevance of EBCR among this higher-risk subgroup.