Comprehensive Cardiac Rehabilitation for Secondary Prevention After Transient Ischemic Attack or Mild Stroke

• DOI: 10.1161/strokeaha.111.620187
• Publication Date: 2011-09-23T06:51:09Z
• Authors: Peter L. Prior; Vladimir Hachinski; Karen Unsworth; Richard Chan; Sharon Mytka; Christina O'Calla...; Neville Suskin
• Keywords: Stroke

Comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation (CCR), which integrates structured lifestyle interventions and medications, reduces morbidity mortality among patients. CCR has not typically been used with cerebrovascular populations, despite important commonalities heart We tested feasibility effectiveness of 6-month outpatient for secondary prevention after transient ischemic attack or mild, nondisabling stroke. This article presents risk factors. A future will discuss psychological outcomes.Consecutive consenting subjects having sustained a stroke within the previous 12 months (mean, 11.5 weeks; event-to-CCR entry) ≥1 vascular factor, were recruited from clinic providing usual care. measured outcomes following prospective cohort design.Of 110 January 2005 to April 2006, 100 (mean age, 64.9 years; 46 women) entered 80 completed CCR. obtained favorable, significant intake-to-exit changes in: aerobic capacity (+31.4%; P<0.001), total cholesterol (-0.30 mmol/L; P=0.008), cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein (-11.6%; triglycerides (-0.27 P=0.003), waist circumference (-2.44 cm; body mass index (-0.53 kg/m(2); weight (-1.43 kg; P=0.001). Low-density (-0.24 mmol/L), high-density (+0.06 systolic (-3.21 mm Hg) diastolic (-2.34 blood pressure changed favorably, but nonsignificantly. shift toward nonsmoking occurred (P=0.008). Compared intake, 11 more individuals (25.6% increase) finished in lowest-mortality category Duke Treadmill Score (P<0.001).CCR is feasible effective stroke, offering promising model protection across chronic disease entities. know no similar investigation, are now conducting randomized trial.