Short-term impact of a 4-week intensive cardiac rehabilitation program on quality of life and anxiety-depression.

INTRODUCTION

Cardiac rehabilitation programs are well recognized as being essential to the comprehensive care of patients with cardiovascular disease and chronic heart failure. These programs aim at reducing cardiovascular risks, promoting healthy lifestyle behaviours and compliance as well as limiting disability and increasing quality of life (QoL) of cardiac patients.

PURPOSE

To evaluate the impact of a 4-week cardiac rehabilitation program on physical parameters and several aspects of the QoL of cardiac patients.

METHODS

A cohort of 101 cardiac patients (men: 70%) mean age 65±12 years (mean±SD) participated in a cardiac rehabilitation program. Before and after the 4-week cardiac rehabilitation program, the study recorded and assessed the patients' physical parameters such as weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference and effort tolerance as well as QoL using different questionnaires: SF-36 Health Survey (SF-36), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD) and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI).

RESULTS

The patients' physical parameters (BMI and waist circumference) decreased by 3%, while effort tolerance increased by 25% (P<0.0001). Furthermore, for all patients, the PSQI, HAD and physical and mental SF-36 scores improved significantly (P<0.0001). The different SF-36 subscales' scores did also increase after the program (P<0.0001).

CONCLUSION

Despite a modest weight loss and reduction in waist circumference, a 4-week cardiac rehabilitation program (short-term) seems to be sufficient for improving patients' physical state and mental well-being.