Effects of a Phase IV Home-Based Cardiac Rehabilitation Program on Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Physical Activity

Background: Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death globally and sedentary lifestyle is one of the main risk factors. Home-based cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programs appear to be effective to improve exercise tolerance. The aim of the study, therefore, was to evaluate the effects of a phase IV (maintenance) home-based CR program on cardiorespiratory fitness and daily physical activity of patients recovering from an acute myocardial infarction.
Methods: This a pilot study, with sub-group randomized controlled trial included 32 individuals recovering from a myocardial infarction, randomly divided into the experimental group (EG, n = 16) and the control group (CG, n=16). The EG performed an exercise program, 3 times per week, at home during 8 weeks. The 2 groups received health education sessions. Baseline and final assessments included cardiorespiratory fitness, resting and peak heart rate, blood pressure and rate pressure, heart rate recovery and daily physical activity. (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01887080).
Results: At baseline no significant differences were observed between groups. After 8 weeks of exercise, the EG increased significantly peak oxygen uptake (p=0.02), test duration (p=0.019), peak rate pressure (p=0.003), peak heart rate (p=0.003) and heart rate recovery (0.025) when compared to the CG. No changes were observed on daily physical activity in both groups.
Conclusion: This specific phase IV home-based exercise program seems to improve cardiorespiratory fitness, hemodynamics at peak exercise and heart rate recovery, an indicator of cardiac autonomic function.