Two early rehabilitation training models in male patients after coronary artery bypass surgery: application of continuous walking training as an alternative to interval cycle ergometer training

Effect of Early Exercise Rehabilitation on Cardiopulmonary Function and Quality of Life in Patients after Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of early exercise rehabilitation on cardiopulmonary function and quality of life in patients after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Eighty patients with coronary heart disease who underwent CABG from April 2020 to April 2022 were divided into the study group (n = 40) and control group (n = 40). The control group was given conventional treatment and routine care after CABG, and the study group received early exercise rehabilitation according to the control group. The cardiac function indexes, 6-minute walking test (6MWT), and cardiopulmonary function indexes and quality of life of the two groups were compared before and after the intervention, and the length of hospitalization and hospital costs as well as the occurrence of pulmonary complications in both groups were recorded. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was significantly higher (P < 0.05), and left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (LVEDD) and left ventricular end-systolic diameter (LVESD) were significantly lower (P < 0.05) in the study group than in the control group after the intervention; 6MWT, maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max), and anaerobic threshold (AT) were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the study group than in the control group after the intervention; physical function (PF), role physical (RP), general health (GH), and role emotional (RE) dimension scores were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the study group compared with the control group after the intervention The differences in the scores of the remaining dimensions were not statistically significant (P > 0.05); the total hospitalization time in the test group was significantly shorter than that in the control group (P < 0.05), the hospitalization cost was significantly less than that in the control group (P < 0.05), and the total incidence of pulmonary infection and hypoxemia was significantly lower than that in the control group (P < 0.05). Early exercise rehabilitation can effectively improve cardiopulmonary function and exercise tolerance and improve the quality of life of patients after CABG.

Use of the six-minute walk test in exercise prescription in male patients after coronary artery bypass surgery

INTRODUCTION

It is unclear whether it is possible to determine the training load on the basis of the 6-minute walk test (6-MWT) in patients after cardiac surgery with low tolerance of physical exercise.

AIM

Use of the 6-MWT to determine an individual initial training load in walking training on a treadmill in the early phase of cardiac rehabilitation in men after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Twenty-two men aged 54 to 74 years, up to 3 months after CABG surgery participated in walking training on a treadmill (12-15 sessions). Patients underwent the initial and final treadmill exercise stress test (TEST) and the 6-MWT. Based on 6-MWT results, the initial training load was prescribed. Before the 6-MWT and 3 minutes after its completion, lactate concentration was determined.

RESULTS

The 6-MWT distance increased from 420 ±80 m to 519 ±61 m (p < 0.001), and the energy expenditure from 4.4 ±1.4 MET to 6.3 ±1.3 MET (p < 0.001). There was a positive correlation between 6-MWT distance and energy expenditure in the TEST before rehabilitation (r = 0.60, p = 0.005), and after rehabilitation (r = 0.75, p < 0.001). A negative correlation was found between the baseline 6-MWT distance and distance increment in the final 6-MWT (r = -0.66, p = 0.002). The 6-MWT did not induce hyperlactatemia.

CONCLUSIONS

The 6-MWT can be used in exercise intensity prescription, especially for determining the individual initial training load, load progression, as well as its correction during follow-up tests.