Determinants of Functional Improvement After Cardiac Rehabilitation in Acute Coronary Syndrome

• DOI: 10.1007/s40292-021-00473-7
• Publication Date: 2021-09-13T12:08:54Z
• Authors: Sofia Bianchi; Alessandro Maloberti; Alessio Peretti; Laura Garatti; Matteo Palazzini; Lucia Occhi; Ilaria Bassi; Sabrina Sioli; Marco Biolcati; Valentina Giani; Massimiliano Mont...; Filippo Leidi; Giacomo Ruzzenenti; Giovanna Beretta; Cristina Giannatt...; Salvatore Riccobono
• Keywords: Male; Cardiac Rehabilitation; Acute coronary syndrome; Cardiac rehabilitation; Functional improvement;; Middle Aged; Physical Functional Performance; 3. Good health; 03 medical and health sciences; Treatment Outcome; 0302 clinical medicine; Humans; Original Article; Female; Acute Coronary Syndrome; Aged

Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is an effective tool for secondary prevention after acute coronary syndrome (ACS).Aim of our study was to find the significant determinants of exercise capacity (evaluated with the six-minute walking test-6-MWT) and functional improvement in patients undergoing CR after an ACS.The study group included 298 patients (mean age 61.6 ± 10.2 years; males 80.2%) who, after ACS, were enrolled in CR program at Niguarda Hospital in Milan from 2015 to 2018. For all patients, we collected anamnestic, clinical and instrumental cardiological data. All patients performed a 6-MWT at the beginning (6-MWT-1) and at the end (6-MWT-2) of CR program. Δ meters were used to represent functional improvement.Multiple linear regression models were carried out for 6-MWT-1, 6-MWT-2, Δ meters and % Δ meters. Standardized regression coefficients showed that age (β = - 0.237; p < 0.001), BMI (β = - 0.116; p = 0.006) and heart rate (β = - 0.082; p = 0.040) were determinants of exercise capacity (6MWT-1 and 2), whereas age (β = -.231; p = 0.004), sex (β = - 0.187; p = 0.008) and BMI (β = - 0.164; p = 0.022) were determinants of functional improvement (Δ meters).Our data showed that functional improvement after CR in ACS patients is mainly related to non-cardiological variables. Instead it is related to intrinsic factors, both modifiable (BMI) and non-modifiable (age, sex).