Cardiac rehabilitation improved exercise tolerance after a myocardial infarction in older patients

Marchionni N, Fattirolli F, Fumagalli S, et al . Improved exercise tolerance and quality of life with cardiac rehabilitation of older patients after myocardial infarction: results of a randomized, controlled trial. Circulation 2003;107:2201–6.[OpenUrl][1][Abstract/FREE Full Text][2] Q In patients >45 years of age who have had a myocardial infarction (MI), does cardiac rehabilitation (CR) improve short and long term exercise tolerance? ### ![Graphic][3] Design: randomised controlled trial. ### ![Graphic][4] Allocation: unclear. ### ![Graphic][5] Blinding: blinded (healthcare providers, data collectors, and outcomes assessors). ### ![Graphic][6] Follow up period: 14 months. ### ![Graphic][7] Setting: a university CR unit in Florence, Italy. ### ![Graphic][8] Patients: 270 patients >45 years of age (age range 46–86 y, 68% men) who were referred to the CR unit for functional evaluation 4–6 weeks after MI. Exclusion criteria included severe cognitive impairment or physical disability, left ventricular ejection fraction <35%, contraindications to vigorous physical exercise, and living too far from the CR unit. ### ![Graphic][9] Interventions: Patients were allocated in an age (3 age groups predefined as middle aged 45–65 … [1]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DCirculation%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.1161%252F01.CIR.0000066322.21016.4A%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Apmid%252F12707240%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [2]: /lookup/ijlink?linkType=ABST&journalCode=circulationaha&resid=107/17/2201&atom=%2Febnurs%2F7%2F1%2F20.atom [3]: /embed/inline-graphic-1.gif [4]: /embed/inline-graphic-2.gif [5]: /embed/inline-graphic-3.gif [6]: /embed/inline-graphic-4.gif [7]: /embed/inline-graphic-5.gif [8]: /embed/inline-graphic-6.gif [9]: /embed/inline-graphic-7.gif