Analysis of physical exercise in cardiac patients following cardiovascular rehabilitation.

Cardiovascular rehabilitation and retraining seek to increase cardiorespiratory fitness and to manage certain risk factors such as smoking, hypercholesterolaemia and sedentary lifestyle. Such lifestyle changes can be influenced by a combination of health determinants. The purpose of this study is to analyse the profile (health determinants) of patients who continue to practice a physical activity and who are following guidelines for physical activity, at one year after rehabilitation. One hundred patients (23 women and 77 men) with an average age of 59.9 years (±10.42) were monitored. The level of physical activity of these patients was measured with weekly journals and with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). We found that 46.4% of patients did not follow the recommendations for physical exercise. In addition, patients from higher social strata and those with higher levels of education were more inclined to continue to practice physical activity. Our results suggest that professional practices and patient education would benefit from a greater understanding of social and cultural determinants, and that this would also promote patient compliance with instructions regarding physical activity.