Purpose: To examine the maintenance of functional capacity and hemodynamic responses to exercise in cardiac patients two and a half years after discharge from cardiac rehabilitation program. Methods: Eighty-eight patients with CVD were contacted after discharge from our university-based phase II cardiac rehabilitation program between 2011 and 2014. Only fifty-two patients agreed to participate in the study (age = 59.1 ± 14 years, height = 1.67 ± 0.9 m, weight = 77.5 ± 13.2 kg, BMI = 27.6 ± 3.6 kg/m2). Patients returned 30.7 ± 9.0 months after CR discharge and performed a 6-minute walking test (6MWT). Functional capacity was measured by the distance walked during the 6MWT and hemodynamic responses were measured after the test. Multiple repeated-measures ANOVAs were used to compare variables at baseline (Pre), end of CR (Post1) and follow-up 2.5 yrs after completing CR (Post2). Bonferroni post hoc analysis was used when appropriate. Significance was accepted at the p < 0.05 level. Results: Functional capacity improved 23.1% with CR (443 ± 95 m Pre to 545 ± 87 m Post1, p < 0.001) and was maintained at follow-up (545 ± 87 m Post1 to 542 ± 71 m Post2, p > 0.05). Resting heart rate decreased 7.0% between CR and follow-up (71 ± 9.0 bpm Post1 to 66 ± 11 bpm Post2, p = 0.007). DBP decreased by 5.6% after CR (71 ± 10 mmHg Pre to 67 ± 9.0 mmHg Post1, p = 0.002) and was maintained after discharge (67 ± 9.0 mmHg Post1 to 66 ± 9.0 mmHg Post2, p > 0.05). Patients experienced a greater five-minute heart rate recovery (24 ± 13 bpm Pre vs 38 ± 16 bpm Post1, p < 0.001), which was maintained at follow-up (38 ± 16 bpm Post1 vs 39 ± 12 bpm Post2, p > 0.05). Greater SBP recovery was also found (20 ± 12 mmHg Pre vs 29 ± 16 mmHg Post1, p = 0.004) and maintained at follow-up (29 ± 16 mmHg Post1 vs 27 ± 11 mmHg Post2, p > 0.05). RPP was greater (13066 ± 3152 mmHg*bpm Pre vs 15934 ± 3962 mmHg*bpm Post 1, p < 0.001) and maintained at follow-up Post1 vs 14933 ± 3505 mmHg*bpm Post2, p = 0.288). Conclusion: Patients maintained their functional capacity and hemodynamic responses to exercise two and a half years after discharge from CR, despite they gained body weight.
