Results of the Cardiac Rehabilitation (CR) Program in a private clinic in Lima

Abstract

Aims: Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programs have been shown to improve control of cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF) through supervised exercise practice, optimization of medical therapy, and continuing education. Objective: Describe the results of the Clínica Internacional CR Program. Describe changes in clinical and biochemical variables and determine mortality and survival free of major cardiovascular events. Methods: Observational, analytical, retrospective, longitudinal study of 51 patients who completed the Clínica Internacional CR Program between January 2018 and December 2019. The average age of the study sample was 57.5±10.8 and 94.1% were male. We defined three evaluation periods: Pre-Rehabilitation (t1), before having performed the CR; Post-Rehabilitation (t2); and follow-up (t3), mean of 39.8±9.8 months. Results: There was no significant variation in BMI at t1 vs. t2, (28.7, IQR: 25.2-30.6 vs. 27, IQR:25.1-30.4, p: 0.749), there was a significant increase in Functional Class I (31% vs. 80%, p=0.017) which translated into a significant increase in MET (t1: 6 IQR: 5-8 vs. t2: 9.1 IQR: 7-10.7, p<0.001). There was a significant decrease in Total Cholesterol (t1:157mg/dl IQR: 124-182 vs. t2: 130 IQR:114-156, p<0.001), LDL (t1:85mg/dl IQR: 58- 99 vs. t2: 70 IQR: 51-83, p<0.001) and Triglycerides (t1:145mg/dl IQR: 125-175 vs. t2: 130 IQR:87-136, p<0.001). At follow-up (t3), there were no deaths, however 5 patients (9.8%) presented CVD (2 had stroke, 3 under went new percutaneous coronary intervention). Conclusions: The Cardiac Rehabilitation Program of the Clínica Internacional improved the functional capacity as well as the serum levels of total cholesterol, LDL and triglycerides.