Outpatient cardiac rehabilitation in elderly patients.

Exercise as part of cardiac rehabilitation plays a role in minimizing disability associated with myocardial infarction and coronary artery bypass surgery. The beneficial effects have been documented primarily among middle-aged participants. The study of those aged 65 years or greater has received less attention. The purpose of this review article is to summarize available data regarding exercise training in elderly patients with heart disease and review issues and considerations for their participation, together providing a basis for inclusion of more elderly in cardiac rehabilitation. Both male and female elderly patients with heart disease can benefit from exercise through significant improvements in functional capacity and reduced myocardial work. Changes are similar in magnitude to those observed among younger participants. Because elders are the fastest growing U.S. population segment and have a twofold to threefold higher incidence of acute myocardial infarction than younger individuals, decreasing disability by including more elderly in cardiac rehabilitation has important public health implications.