Abstract 167: Effects Of Cardiac Rehabilitation After Discharge On Frailty And Balance In Elderly Patients With Cardiovascular Disease

Background: Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) improves patients’ overall health. However, the benefits of CR after discharge in elderly patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD) are unknown. We therefore compared cardiac function, exercise capacity, and balance between elderly patients who received CR and those who received the current standard of clinical care.

Methods: In this retrospective study, elderly patients (n=185; mean age, 79.8 years) admitted due to worsening CVD were divided into two groups: those who underwent CR comprising aerobic exercise and resistance training once weekly for 4 months (group C, n=85) and those who received standard clinical care (group U, n=100). All patients underwent cardiopulmonary exercise testing, Kihon Checklist (KCL) frailty assessment, walking speed and timed up-and-go (TUG) measurement, and the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) at discharge and 4 months afterward.

Results: In group C, the anaerobic threshold (AT) increased from 10.0±1.8 mL/min/kg at baseline to 10.5±2.1 mL/min/kg at 4 months (p=0.032). Comfortable walking speed, TUG, and SPPB at 4 months were improved in group C (p<0.05), but TUG and SPPB did not differ between discharge and 4 months in group U. After adjustment for age, gender, and baseline data, KCL score tended to be improved (p=0.089) and AT, walking speed, TUG, and SPPB were significantly improved in group C (p<0.05).

Conclusions: CR after discharge is beneficial for elderly patients with CVD. Rather than further increasing cardiac function, CR after discharge decreased frailty and increased exercise capacity, ease of movement, and balance. CR after discharge should be recommended more often for elderly patients with CVD.