Improved quality of life with cardiac rehabilitation for post-myocardial infarction patients in Korea

Abstract

Background

Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) has been used as a primary health outcome in cardiac rehabilitation programs (CRP).

Aims

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of an 8-week CRP on HRQOL and exercise capacity in myocardial infarction (MI) patients in Korea.

Methods

After matching on gender, age, and left ventricular ejection fraction, 60 subjects with a first acute MI were allocated to either a CRP group (n =31) or a Control group (n =29). The 8-week CRP included hospital-based, supervised exercise training (three times per week, average intensity of 65% VO_2peak) and individual education sessions. The Control group was instructed on a home-based exercise regimen without contact during the 8 weeks. At baseline and 8 weeks, HRQOL was assessed by the Quality of Life Index (QLI)–cardiac version III; exercise capacity by a treadmill test.

Results

After adjusting for education level, the overall QLI, health/functioning and psycho/spiritual scores showed greater increases in the CRP group than the Control group (p=.014, p=.016, and p=.036, respectively). We observed significant improvements in VO_2peak (p<.0001), anaerobic threshold (p<.0001), and maximal exercise duration (p<.0001) in the CRP group, compared to the Control group.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that the Korean CRP can lead to significant improvements in HRQOL outcomes and exercise capacity.