Impact of a cardiac rehabilitation program on adherence to the mediterranean diet and physical activity in acute coronary syndrome

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of a cardiac rehabilitation program (CRP) in improving adherence to non -pharmacological secondary prevention in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Method: Retrospective study of patients with ACS referred to CRP in a tertiary hospital from 2018 to 2021. Pre -post differences in adherence to physical activity, Mediterranean diet, smoking, and motivation to change were analyzed. Age, sex, and baseline motivation were analyzed in predicting change in adherence. Results: 418 patients were included. At the end of the CRP, the adherence to the mediterranean diet increased (p < 0.05; d = 0.83), frequency of physical activity increased by 2.16 (p < 0.05), and motivation to change remained constant (p = 0.94). Both women and men improved their adherence to the mediterranean diet. Both sexes performed more physical activity at the end of the CRP (1.89 times more in men and 4 times more in women; p < 0.05). An association was found between initial motivation and greater changes in adherence to the mediterranean diet (p < 0.05). An inversely proportional difference was observed between age and adherence to the mediterranean diet (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The CRP, in our hospital environment, has an effect of improving adherence to the mediterranean diet and physical exercise in patients with ACS. The change in adherence to the diet increases as the motivation to change the baseline increases, and age is inversely related to the change in adherence.