Beneficial effects of home-based cardiac rehabilitation on metabolic profiles in coronary heart-disease patients

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in developed countries. Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with increased risk of CHD. Cardiac rehabilitation is considered an effective intervention and a Class I indication in patients with CHD. This study was designed to evaluate the effects of home-based, integrated cardiac rehabilitation (HBICR) of patients with CHD in modifiable risk-factor control and exercise capacity. Sixty-four patients with CHD were investigated and randomized into intervention and control groups. The intervention group received a HBICR containing medication use, exercise program, smoking-cessation counseling, and education regarding risk factors, nutrition, and the necessity of continuing the program, whereas the control group received traditional care. Baseline and follow-up assessments at 3 months and 12 months, including body composition, metabolic syndrome risk score, and biochemical tests were performed in all patients. Additionally, cardiopulmonary function tests were also performed at baseline and 3-month follow-up assessments. There was a significant between-group, within-group, and interaction effect found in the MetS Z scores. Significant within-group effects were also observed in modified Adult Treatment Panel III score, waist circumference, high-density lipoprotein, and low-density lipoprotein. However, several cardiopulmonary parameters did not differ significantly at 3-month follow-up between the two groups, including peak V̇O2, peak heart rate, peak respiratory exchange ratio, anaerobic threshold V̇O2, heart-rate reserve, and heart-rate recovery after 1 min and after 2 min. Our results showed that HBICR exhibited significant positive effects on modifiable risk-factor control in CHD patients.