Effect of physical training on exercise hemodynamics in patients with stable coronary artery disease. The use of impedance cardiography.

Seventeen consecutive patients with stable coronary artery disease with a previous history of myocardial infarction were studied for evaluation of the effect of physical training on exercise hemodynamics. The patients were divided into two groups: Group A (n = 10), the control group and Group B (n = 7), the rehabilitated group. Patients in Group B had physical training for five months. The mean exercise time in Group B (trained group) was significantly greater than in Group A (17.0 +/- 3.3 vs 11.6 +/- 3.2, p less than 0.01). Cardiac output was measured by impedance cardiography. The resting hemodynamic parameters were not statistically different between the two groups. At sub-maximal levels of exercise, the blood pressure X heart rate product was the same in both groups. At maximal workload, the heart rate X blood pressure product was the same in both groups, while the cardiac output was significantly greater in Group B compared to Group A (16.0 +/- 5.7 vs 12.1 +/- 3.2 1/min, p less than 0.001). These results suggest that physical training may improve cardiac function during exercise.