Effect of Supervised Versus Home Based Phase II Cardiac Rehabilitation Program on Exercise Capacity and Quality of Life in Post CABG Patients

Background: Phase II cardiac rehabilitation has been demonstrated to be an effective measure in post CABG patients in terms of short term of physical and psychological outcomes. Comparative effect of supervised and home based phase II cardiac rehabilitation is conflicting. Purpose: To determine the effectiveness of supervised centre-based phase II cardiac rehabilitation compared with home-based phase II cardiac rehabilitation programmes on exercise capacity and health related quality of life in patients with post CABG. Design: The study was a pre-test post-test, comparative, experimental design Setting: All the patients were recruited from the outpatient department of physical therapy and cardiopulmonary rehabilitation, Delhi Heart and Lung Institute, New Delhi Methods: Thirty (n=30) post CABG patients who consented for this study were tested for their exercise capacity. They were randomly divided into 4 weeks supervised (n=15) and home based (n=15) phase II cardiac rehabilitation program. Outcome measures hemodynamic parameters; 6MWD and quality of life were evaluated by physical and mental summery score of SF-36. Results: Both the groups had similar demographic characteristics. Between groups shows no significant differences in hemodynamic measurements. However significant improvement were seen in PCS and MCS scores when between group analysis was done (p<0.001). Conclusions: The overall results of the study lead us to the conclusion that there is no significant difference in exercise capacity and quality of life in supervised exercise group versus home based exercise group in a four week cardiac rehabilitation program. However, there is significant improvement in exercise capacity and quality of life in both the groups when compared with their baseline.