Plasma haemostatic markers, endothelial function and ambulatory blood pressure changes with home versus hospital cardiac rehabilitation: the Birmingham Rehabilitation Uptake Maximisation Study

Effect of regular exercise training on platelet function in patients with cardiovascular disease and healthy individuals: A systematic review

INTRODUCTION

Regular exercise training is essential in prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease (CVD), yet the beneficial effects of exercise remain only partly explained. Platelets play a key role in CVD and may be affected by regular exercise training. We aimed to systematically summarise studies investigating the effect of regular exercise training on platelet function in patients with CVD and in healthy individuals.

METHODS

Studies were identified by PubMed, Embase and Web of Science May 16, 2022. We selected studies investigating markers of platelet function in relation to regular exercise training in patients with CVD and in healthy individuals. Regular exercise was defined as exercise training for four weeks or more.

RESULTS

Of the included studies, 11 investigated patients with CVD and 29 were on healthy individuals. Studies were heterogeneous regarding design, study population and methodology, and the results were ambiguous. In total, 52 different markers of platelet function were investigated with platelet aggregation, soluble P-selectin, and thromboxane B2 (TXB2) as the most frequently examined. When evaluating between-group changes after regular exercise, two studies found a reduced platelet aggregation in the exercise group whilst three studies did not find a difference between groups. With respect to TXB2, three studies reported a reduction and two studies an increase in the exercise group. There were no between-group differences in the seven studies examining soluble P-selectin.

CONCLUSION

Regular exercise training has no clear impact on platelet function in patients with CVD or healthy individuals.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION

CRD42022350539.

The Effect and Possible Mechanism of Cardiac Rehabilitation in Partial Revascularization Performed on Multiple Coronary Artery Lesions

Purpose

To observe the effect of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) in patients with partial revascularization performed on multiple coronary artery lesions and explore its possible mechanism.

Patients and Methods

A total of 400 patients with multiple coronary artery lesions were enrolled and randomly divided into a complete revascularization group and a CR group, with 200 cases in each group. Target lesion revascularization was performed radically in the complete revascularization group, while it was partially completed in the CR group, and postoperative CR was performed. All the patients were put under conventional treatment. Left ventricular end diastolic dimension (LVEDD), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), 6-minute walking distance (6-MWD), quality-of-life scores, safety and levels of serum nitric oxide (NO), nitric oxide synthase (NOS), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were evaluated and compared between two groups before and after training.

Results

There was no significant difference in LVEDD, LVEF, 6-MWD, quality-of-life scores, levels of serum NO, NOS, SOD, and VEGF between two groups before training (p>0.05). 1 year later, compared with the complete revascularization group, the occurrence of major adverse events in the CR group declined (p>0.05); the measurements of LVEDD decreased and LVEF increased (p>0.05), 6-MWD increased significantly (p<0.05), quality-of-life scores were higher (p<0.05), the levels of serum NO, NOS, and SOD increased noticeably, and the levels of serum VEGF decreased significantly in the CR group (p<0.05). There were significant differences within the same group, before and after training (p<0.05).

Conclusion

Cardiac rehabilitation training, not increase in the incidence of adverse events, is effective and safe after partial revascularization in patients with multiple coronary artery lesions, which has notable clinical advantages in promoting patients' exercise endurance and quality-of-life by improving the nitric oxide synthase system and antioxidant system and reducing the level of VEGF.

Haemostasis and fibrinolysis after regular high-intensity interval training in patients with coronary artery disease: a randomised controlled trial

Patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) have prothrombotic changes compared with healthy individuals. Regular exercise reduces cardiovascular mortality in patients with stable CAD. However, the underlying mechanism for the beneficial effect is unknown. We investigated whether regular exercise would inhibit platelet aggregation and thrombin generation and increase fibrinolysis in patients with CAD.

Materials and methods

Patients with CAD were randomised 1:1 to a supervised high-intensity exercise training programme or standard care for 12 weeks. Blood samples were obtained at baseline and after 6 and 12 weeks. Platelet aggregation was evaluated with the Multiplate Analyser, thrombin generation using the calibrated automated thrombogram and fibrinolysis employing a clot lysis assay.

Results

A total of 169 stable patients with CAD were randomised, and 142 patients (67±9 years, 83% males) completed the study; 64 in the exercise group and 78 in the standard care group. All but one patients received single antiplatelet therapy. From baseline to 12 weeks postintervention (Δ), no significant between-group differences were found in adenosine diphosphate-induced platelet aggregation (Δ−15 aggregation units (AU), AU×min, 95% CI −70 to 40 in the exercise group and Δ−26 AU×min, 95% CI −77 to 26 in the standard care group, p=0.44); endogenous thrombin potential (medians: Δ−5%, 95% CI −12 to 3 in the exercise group and Δ−6%, 95% CI −13 to 1 in the standard care group, p=0.26); nor in 50% clot lysis time (medians: Δ−9%, 95% CI −23 to 7 in the exercise group and Δ−17%, 95% CI −29 to −3 in the standard care group, p=0.60).

Conclusions

Twelve weeks of high-intensity whole-body endurance exercise did not affect platelet aggregation, thrombin generation or fibrinolysis in patients with stable CAD.

Trial registration number

NCT04268992.

Exercise training and inflammatory markers in coronary artery disease patients

Aim. To evaluate the influence of exercise training on inflammatory markers and exercise tolerance in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients. Patients and methods. A total of 54 subjects were enrolled in the present study, including 34 CAD patients (CAD group: 59.2 ± 8.2 years) and 20 healthy controls (C group: 54.2 ± 8.0 years). C reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), white blood cell (WBC), and placental growth factor (PIGF) were determined, and an exercise test was performed in both groups at baseline and once again in CAD group after the supervised 3 weeks of aerobic exercise training. Results. At baseline, CRP, ESR and PIGF were significantly higher in the CAD group compared to the C group (p = 0.038, p = 0.019 and p = 0.002), while exercise capacity was significantly higher in the C group (p ˂ 0.01). After 3 weeks of exercise training, CRP, ESR, WBC count and PIGF significantly decreased (p = 0.048, p ˂ 0.001, p = 0.002 and p ˂ 0.001 respectively), while exercise capacity significantly increased (p ˂ 0.001) in the CAD group. In the CAD group, CRP decrease significantly correlated with WBC and PIGF decrease (r = 0.816, p = 0.002 and r = 0.988, p ˂ 0.001), as well as with exercise capacity increase (r = 0.834, p ˂ 0.001). Also, WBC decrease significantly correlated both with PIGF decrease (r = 0.768, p ˂ 0.001) and exercise capacity increase (r = 0.548, p = 0.012), while PIGF decrease significantly correlated with exercise capacity increase (r = 0.548, p = 0.013). Conclusion. Residential exercise training in CAD patients reduces inflammation, expressed through a significant decrease in CRP, ESR, WBC count and PIGF levels. Those positive changes in inflammatory markers are associated with significant improvement in exercise capacity.

Cardiac Rehabilitation and Endothelial Function

Endothelial dysfunction is an early abnormality in the process of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease and has been associated with worse clinical outcome. Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) has been reported to be helpful to reduce cardiovascular events in various types of cardiac disease, but the mechanisms of its beneficial effects remain only partially known. In this article, we review the studies that assessed the effect of CR on endothelial function in patients with various cardiac conditions. Available data show that CR significantly improves impaired endothelial function in these patients, which may contribute to the beneficial effects of CR on clinical outcome.

Current Understanding of Atherogenesis

Scientific understanding of atherogenesis is constantly developing. From Virchow's observations 160 years ago we now recognize the endothelial response to injury as inflammatory, involved in all stages of atherosclerosis. Endothelial activation may cause reversible injury or dysfunction, or lead to irreparable damage. Indeed, early atherosclerosis is reversible. The introduction of genome-wide association testing has furthered the identification of potentially important genetic variants that help explain the heritability of coronary artery disease as well as spontaneous cases of severe coronary artery disease in patients with otherwise minimal risk factors. However, the mechanisms by which many of the newer variants exert their influence remain unknown.

Behaviour change techniques in home-based cardiac rehabilitation: a systematic review

Background

Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programmes offering secondary prevention for cardiovascular disease (CVD) advise healthy lifestyle behaviours, with the behaviour change techniques (BCTs) of goals and planning, feedback and monitoring, and social support recommended. More information is needed about BCT use in home-based CR to support these programmes in practice.

Aim

To identify and describe the use of BCTs in home-based CR programmes.

Design and setting

Randomised controlled trials of home-based CR between 2005 and 2015 were identified by searching MEDLINE^®, Embase, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and Cochrane Database.

Method

Reviewers independently screened titles and abstracts for eligibility. Relevant data, including BCTs, were extracted from included studies. A meta-analysis studied risk factor change in home-based and comparator programmes.

Results

From 2448 studies identified, 11 of good methodological quality (10 on post-myocardial infarction, one on heart failure, 1907 patients) were included. These reported the use of 20 different BCTs. Social support (unspecified) was used in all studies and goal setting (behaviour) in 10. Of the 11 studies, 10 reported effectiveness in reducing CVD risk factors, but one study showed no improvement compared to usual care. This study differed from effective programmes in that it didn’t include BCTs that had instructions on how to perform the behaviour and monitoring, or a credible source.

Conclusion

Social support and goal setting were frequently used BCTs in home-based CR programmes, with the BCTs related to monitoring, instruction on how to perform the behaviour, and credible source being included in effective programmes. Further robust trials are needed to determine the relative value of different BCTs within CR programmes.

Cardiac rehabilitation improves the blood plasma properties of cardiac patients

Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) improves exercise tolerance and general function. However, its effects on blood plasma in cardiac patients remain uncertain. Our aim was to examine the effect of comprehensive CR on the oxidative stress parameters and antioxidant plasma status in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) after cardiac interventions. Exercise-based rehabilitation was established as ergometer training, adjusted for individual patients' physical efficiency. Training was repeated three times a week for two months. The standard biochemical (total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triglycerides and erythrocyte sedimentation rate) and metabolic parameters (peak oxygen uptake [VO₂] and peak workload) were determined. We assessed plasma viscosity, lipid peroxidation, carbonyl compounds levels, glutathione (GSH) and ascorbate (ASC) levels and the non-enzymatic antioxidant capacity of plasma in 12 patients with CAD before and after CR. Parameters were examined before exercise, immediately after exercise, and 1 h later. We also compared morphological and biochemical parameters of blood, as well as other parameters such as heart rate and blood pressure (resting and exercise), VO₂max and peak workload (W) before and after CR. Before CR, a significant decrease in GSH concentration was observed 1 h after exercise. Conversely, after CR, GSH, and ASC levels remained unchanged immediately after exercise. However, ASC increased after CR after exercise and 1 h later in comparison to before CR. There was a significant increase in ferric reduction ability of plasma immediately after exercise after CR, when compared with before CR. CR improved several blood biochemical parameters, peak VO₂, induced an increase in systolic blood pressure peak, and patients' peak workload. After CR, improvements were detected in oxidative stress parameters, except in the level of carbonyls. These changes may contribute to the increased functional heart capacity and better tolerance to exercise and functional capacity of the patients. These improvements could indicate better prognosis of future cardiac events and hospitalization and better quality of life.

EFEITOS DO TREINAMENTO FÍSICO NO ENDOTÉLIO APÓS CIRURGIA DE REVASCULARIZAÇÃO

Introdução A cirurgia de revascularização do miocárdio (CRM) é uma das mais frequentes cirurgias realizadas em todo o mundo, muitos estudos vêm relatando os benefícios do treinamento físico para a melhora da capacidade funcional, porém há poucos estudos sobre os efeitos na função endotelial vascular. Objetivo Analisar os efeitos do treinamento físico sobre a função endotelial vascular em pacientes submetidos à CRM, isoladamente na fase tardia da reabilitação após seis meses de programa de reabilitação cardíaca (PCR). Métodos Foram incluídos pacientes que haviam sido submetidos à CRM no período máximo de um ano após a cirurgia. O PRC foi empregado durante seis meses consecutivos, com três sessões semanais. Todos os pacientes realizaram exames laboratoriais, teste de força muscular de uma repetição máxima (1-RM) para os membros superiores e inferiores, teste de caminhada de 6 min (TC6M) e avaliação da função endotelial através da técnica de vasodilatação mediada pelo fluxo. Resultados Onze pacientes iniciaram o PRC, porém nove pacientes o completaram. A média de idade foi de 66 anos (50 a 82 anos) e o sexo masculino foi predominante (55,6%). Houve mudanças significativas nos exames laboratoriais bioquímicos: aumento do colesterol total (Basal: 162 ± 31mg/dL vs. 195 ± 39mg/dL; P=0,012) e diminuição da hemoglobina glicada (Basal: 6,74 ± 1,64% vs. 6,26 ± 1,62%; P=0,028). A força muscular aumentou significativamente nos membros superiores e inferiores (P=0,030 e P=0,038, respectivamente); no TC6M observou-se um aumento significativo de 20% na distância percorrida (P=0,020) após seis meses consecutivos de treinamento e houve uma melhora na vasodilatação mediada pelo fluxo (Basal: 6,35 ± 3,92% vs. 6 meses: 9,90 ± 4,19%; P=0,026). Conclusão O treinamento combinado realizado em seis meses ajudou a melhorar a função endotelial e a capacidade funcional de pacientes sedentários que foram submetidos à CRM na fase tardia da reabilitação.