Cardiac rehabilitation in patients with ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction and percutaneous coronary intervention

Abstract

Introduction: Cardiovascular rehabilitation is beneficial in multiple clinical situations. In patients who are treated through percutaneous coronary intervention it is necessary to continue deepening its study. Objectives: To determine the effects of cardiovascular rehabilitation in patients with ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention. Method: Quasi-experimental study in 30 patients with ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction after being treated with coronary angioplasty, and who were attended at the Department of Cardiovascular Rehabilitation of the Hospital Universitario Celestino Hernández Robau, in the period from September 2016 to March 2018. Clinical and epidemiological data were collected, and ergometric and echocardiographic variables were analyzed before and after 12 weeks of developing a cardiovascular rehabilitation program. Results: There was a positive effect on heart rate at rest (66±11 vs. 61±11 beats/minute; p=0.008), exercise time (8.3±2.5 vs. 10.2±2.0 minutes; p<0.0001) and maximum oxygen consumption (24.2±5.0 vs. 27.6±4.9 ml/kg/min; p<0.0001). There was improvement of the ejection fraction and reduction of the diameter of the left ventricle in diastole left ventricular end diastolic diameter, but without significant statistical difference. Conclusions: There was improvement in the ergometric and echocardiographic parameters after the cardiovascular rehabilitation program, which was more beneficial in patients with high blood pressure, smoking habit and percutaneous coronary intervention of two arteries.