Cardiac Rehabilitation and Coronary Artery Disease

Patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) aged 40-70 years will undergo exercise training (thrice weekly for 12 weeks). A reference group composed of healthy individuals will be included. Evaluations will be conducted at baseline and after the intervention period during two visits. During the first visit, carotid artery thickness will be assessed via ultrasound before and after a cardiopulmonary exercise testing. The second visit will include the evaluation of endothelial function using venous occlusion plethysmography. After this, participants will engage in 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise, and blood samples will be collected pre- and post-exercise. Circulating levels of kynurenine pathway (KP) metabolites (Tryptophan, kynurenine, kynurenic acid, and quinolinic acid), pro-inflammatory cytokines, cell adhesion molecules, and lipid profiles will be measured via Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), multiplex essays, and biochemical analysis; respectively.

Participants and recruitment: In this clinical trial, 28 patients with CAD will be enrolled from the Pedro Ernesto University Hospital (HUPE) and 22 control volunteers without evidence of CAD (CTL) will be randomly recruited from among employees and students at the University of Rio de Janeiro State (UERJ). The groups will be matched by age and habitual physical activity level, assessed by the Baecke questionnaire, which quantifies activities performed at home, work, and leisure (sports).

All participants will receive oral and written instructions regarding the risks and benefits of the study and will provide written informed consent. The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of HUPE (CAAE 81718324.3.0000.5259). The study also adheres to SPIRIT 2013 (Standard Protocol Items: Recommendations for International Trials).

Study design: Evaluations will be conducted at baseline and after the 12-week intervention period during two visits interspersed by at least 72-hours interval. Outcomes in the CTL group will be assessed only at baseline to provide reference values. Visits will take place at the Physical Activity and Health Promotion Laboratory (LABSAU) and the Clinical and Experimental Research Laboratory on Vascular Biology (BioVasc), always in the morning (8:00 - 11:00 am), in rooms with controlled temperatures between 22°-24°C and relative humidity between 60-70%. Participants will be instructed to avoid physical activity, alcohol, and stimulants 48 hours prior to assessments.

During the first visit, volunteers will undergo a medical history assessment. If eligible, they will read and sign the informed consent form, if they agree to participate. Subsequently, carotid intima-media thickness will be assessed via carotid ultrasound, followed by a cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET). Immediately after the test, carotid intima-media thickness will be reassessed.

On the second visit, patients will undergo blood collection after 8 hours of fasting, followed by an assessment of vascular function using venous occlusion plethysmography. Approximately 15 min after a light standardized breakfast, participants will engage in 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise, after which blood samples will be collected again.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Eligible CAD patients will be those aged 40 to 70 years, of both sexes, entering the cardiac rehabilitation program at HUPE. CAD will be defined as any acute coronary syndrome, including myocardial infarction with and without ST-segment elevation, and unstable angina (all defined by characteristic histories, electrocardiographic abnormalities, and cardiac enzyme abnormalities), or obstructive CAD diagnosed via coronary angiography (defined as ≥ 50% stenosis of any epicardial coronary artery) in patients with stable angina.
* Healthy controls: adults aged 40 to 70 years, of both sexes, without CAD evidence.

Exclusion Criteria:

* diagnosis of heart failure, pulmonary disease, Chagas disease, or tuberculosis
* regular physical exercise practice (≥ 3 days/week for 30 min) over the past 6 months
* malnutrition (body mass index \[BMI\] \< 18.5 kg/m²)
* smoking
* obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m²)