Postmyocardial infarction cardiac rehabilitation in low risk patients.: Results with a coordinated program of cardiological and primary care

Introduction and objectives. To assess the efficacy of cardiac rehabilitation with a mixed primary and cardiological care program in patients with low-risk myocardial infarction. Patients and method. The participants in this 12-month prospective study were 153 consecutive patients with low-risk myocardial infarction (MI) referred to their primary care center for follow-up care. Of these patients, 113 were referred to a mixed primary and specialized care program that included physical exercise, cardiovascular risk control, an antismoking program, health education talks and psychological evaluation. The other 40 patients served as controls. We analyzed the results after 3 months and 1 year of follow-up. Results. There were no differences between the two groups at baseline. After 1 year, improvements were seen in smoking habit (4.6% Vs 15.6%; P<.05) and body mass index (26 [2] vs 29 [2]; P<.05). Dyslipidemia, glucose and blood pressure were similar in both groups after follow-up. Greater improvements in the group of patients who participated in the program were seen after 1 year in quality of life (78 [2] vs 91 [2]; P<.05), exercise capacity (10.3 [2] vs 8.4 [3]; P<<.01) and return to active employment (84.6% vs 53.3%; P<.05). Conclusions. After 1 year of follow-up, the cardiac rehabilitation program coordinated by cardiological and primary care services for low-risk post-MI patients improved quality of life, and increased exercise tolerance, active employment, and the number of participants who quit smoking. The mixed program also reduced body mass index. These results suggest the need for similar programs.