OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) program on the exercise capacity and secondary prevention in coronary artery obstructive disease (CAOD). METHOD: CR group of 48 CAOD patients had underwent regularly supervised exercise training for 6~8 weeks as well as home exercise continued for 1 year. CR group was advised to control their risk factors by nutrition counsel, abstaining from smoking and reducing their weight. Control group of 16 CAOD patients did not participate in the CR program. Two groups were evaluated for their exercise capacity and risk factors at baseline and after 1 year. RESULTS: CR group showed significantly higher maximal oxygen consumption, maximal rate pressure product and ratings of perceived exertion at stage 3 compared with control group (p<0.05). The number of risk factors per person after 1 year in both groups was significantly lower than baseline (p<0.05), but there was no significant difference between the two groups. CONCLUSION: CR program can improve the exercise capacity and level of risk factor in CAOD patients. Therefore, CR program is recommended for helping CAOD patients improve their functional capacity and reduce the possibility of recurrence.
Coronary Vessels* ; Humans ; Oxygen Consumption ; Recurrence ; Rehabilitation* ; Risk Factors* ; Secondary Prevention ; Smoke ; Smoking

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the dynamics of autonomic nervous activity at rest and immediately after maximum exercise using heart rate variability (HRV) in coronary artery disease (CAD) and to assess the long-term effect of exercise. METHOD: Time and frequency domain of HRV was measured in 18 normal subjects, 37 CAD patients with percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and 10 CAD patients with coronary artery bypass graft at rest and 1 hour after peak graded treadmill exercise. Nineteen CAD patients were exercised with moderate intensity during 4 month and HRV was measured. RESULTS: At rest, the standard deviation of the NN interval (SDNN) and low frequency was significantly lower in both CAD groups than in normal subjects. At recovery stage after maximum exercise, low frequency and low frequency/high frequency ratio was significantly lower in both CAD groups than in normal subjects. SDNN at recovery stage in normal subjects remained significantly below the baseline. There was no significant change in HRV after long-term exercise even though maximum oxygen uptake had improved. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated the reduced control of autonomic nervous activity in CAD patients at rest and immediately after peak exercise. There was no change in HRV after long-term exercise.
Angioplasty ; Coronary Artery Bypass ; Coronary Artery Disease* ; Coronary Vessels* ; Heart Rate* ; Heart* ; Humans ; Oxygen ; Transplants