Conclusions HB exercise is slightly more effective than CB rehabilitation in terms of maintaining EC .
Background Exercise-based cardiovascular rehabilitation ( CR ) improves exercise capacity ( EC ) , lowers cardiovascular risk profile and increases physical functioning in the short term .
However , uptake of and adherence to a physically active lifestyle in the long run remain problematic .
Home-based ( HB ) exercise programmes have been introduced in an attempt to enhance long-term adherence to recommended levels of physical activity ( PA ) .
The current systematic review and meta- analysis aim ed to compare the longer-term effects of HB exercise programmes with usual care ( UC ) or centre-based ( CB ) CR in patients referred for CR .
Long-term effect of rehabilitation in coronary artery disease patients: randomized clinical trial of the impact of exercise volume
Objective : To assess whether exercise volume during phase II rehabilitation affects long-term clinical benefits in patients with coronary artery disease . Design : Prospect i ve r and omized clinical trial with long-term follow-up . Setting : Hospital outpatient clinic . Subjects : Coronary artery disease patients ( age 65 ± 9 years , 82 % males ) attending a phase II rehabilitation programme  were r and omized into two groups of exercise volumes : 40- versus 60-minute training sessions . Patients exercised for three days per week for seven weeks , at 65 % of baseline oxygen uptake capacity . Next , they were followed up for 18 months . Out of 165 patients with coronary artery disease who completed the exercise intervention  , 119 attended the 18-month follow-up assessment . Main measurements : Body anthropometrics , resting haemodynamics , blood lipid profile , glycaemia , and C-reactive protein level , smoking behaviour , habitual physical activity , cardiovascular disease incidence and mortality . Results : In total population , a significant worsening of various cardiovascular disease risk factors was found at 18 months follow-up ( P<0.05 ) , and few patients ( 27 % of total group ) adhered to the recommended minimal physical activity level . No difference in change of body anthropometrics , resting haemodynamics , blood lipid profile , glycaemia , and C-reactive protein level , and smoking behaviour was seen between different exercise volumes ( P>0.05 ) . In addition , total cardiovascular disease incidence ( 13 % versus 22 % in 40- versus 60-minute group , respectively ) and habitual physical activity were not different between groups ( P>0.05 ) . Conclusion : In patients with coronary artery disease following cardiac rehabilitation , the cardiovascular disease risk profile worsened significantly during long-term follow-up . A smaller exercise volume during phase II rehabilitation generated equal long-term clinical benefits compared to a greater exercise volume
Conclusions HB exercise is slightly more effective than CB rehabilitation in terms of maintaining EC .
Background Exercise-based cardiovascular rehabilitation ( CR ) improves exercise capacity ( EC ) , lowers cardiovascular risk profile and increases physical functioning in the short term .
However , uptake of and adherence to a physically active lifestyle in the long run remain problematic .
Home-based ( HB ) exercise programmes have been introduced in an attempt to enhance long-term adherence to recommended levels of physical activity ( PA ) .
The current systematic review and meta- analysis aim ed to compare the longer-term effects of HB exercise programmes with usual care ( UC ) or centre-based ( CB ) CR in patients referred for CR .