Feasibility of early mobilization after acute myocardial infarction.

The purpose of the study was to determine the proportion of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) for whom an early programme of mobilization, independent of sex and age was possible, and the main reasons for delay of mobilization. Mobilization according to the programme (sitting on day 2 and standing on day 3) succeeded for 49% of the 241 patients alive and conscious after the 1st day, and there were no significant difference with regard to age and sex. The main reasons for delayed mobilization were prolonged chest pain, conduction disturbances and pulmonary oedema. Discharge on day 10 was feasible for 58% of the 241 patients alive and conscious after the 1st day. The mean hospital stay of the patients discharged later than that was 17.3 days. The reasons for the delayed discharge were delayed mobilization, chest pain persisting while in the ward, reinfarction, social, and other reasons. Early programmed mobilization was thus feasible for almost half the patients, and mobilization had been started in over 90% of the patients by the 5th day. Nevertheless, the remarkably high proportion of readmissions (13.3% of all discharged patients) and reinfarctions (6.9%) within the 30 days following discharge may indicate disadvantages in the early mobilization of some patients.