Effect of aerobic training on exercise capacity and quality of life in patients older than 75 years with acute coronary syndrome undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention

Abstract

Background: Limited clinical studies are available on early exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation in elderly acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of aerobic exercise on exercise capacity and quality of life (QoL) in such patients.

Methods: Seventy elderly patients with ACS undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention in Zhejiang Hospital during August 2016-June 2017 were randomly divided into the control (n = 35) or cardiac rehabilitation group (CR, n = 35). The control group was treated with standard medical treatments without exercise, whereas the CR group was treated with standard medical treatments and exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation. General information, cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) results, responses to QoL and mental health questionnaires, and clinical outcomes and safety were collected.

Results: The CR group safely finished CPET and the 12-week exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation. After the 12-week intervention, the CR group showed significant differences in maximal oxygen uptake (VO_2max) and greater improvements in VO_2max, compared with the control group. The CR group showed statistically significant differences in QoL and mental health compared with the control group.

Conclusion: CPET-based exercise in cardiac rehabilitation can safely increase exercise capacity and QoL in such patients.

Keywords: Cardiac rehabilitation; acute coronary syndrome; exercise capacity; percutaneous coronary intervention; quality of life.