The Effect of Cardiac Rehabilitation on Left Ventricular Remodeling in Men and Women Patients with Coronary Artery Disease

Objective: Left ventricular (LV) remodeling is associated with increased morbidity and mortality therefore, interventions that halt or reverse ventricular remodeling are expected to prevent these clinical outcomes. The aim of the study was to assess the effects of cardiac rehabilitation program on cardiac remodeling process in patients with coronary artery disease and then compare the results between men and women.  Materials & Methods: Among 40 cardiac patients, we studied 20 patients (10 women, aged 54.5±5.44 yr (mean±SD), and 10 men aged 53.2±7.68 yr) who were participating in the recovery phase II of a cardiac rehabilitation program. The exercise program consisted of an endurance and resistance exercise with a duration of 60 min/session and a frequency of 3 sessions/week for 2 months. All patients underwent a complete resting echocardiography study and exercise test before and after exercise training. Data were analyzed by paired T and independent T tests. Results: EF in men increased from 52%±8 to 60.5%±7.36 and in women from 49%±8 to 58.5%±8.22. LV end-diastolic diameter in men decreased from 50.26±6.74 to 45.4±5.56 mm and from 47.87±11.76 to 44.62±8.52 mm in women. LV end systolic diameter in men decreased from 33.7±10.32 to 27.86±6.8 mm and from 33.29±9.52 mm to 28.73±6.1 mm in women. FS in men increased from 27.8%±5.04 to 38.25%±5.24 and from 27.3%±7.6 to 36.15%±5.5 mm in women (P=0/001) . However, there was no difference in any of the above characteristics between the two groups. Conclusion: 24 sessions of cardiac rehabilitation program had a significant effect on the prevention of left ventricular remodeling in both men and women patients. This effect seems to be similar in both groups.