Influence of Training Intensity in Coronary Artery Disease

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Coronary artery disease (CAD) is associated with high mortality worldwide. Narrowing of the coronary arteries can cause an acute myocardial infarction. Patient with cardiac ischemia are often treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Following hospitalisation, the patients are offered to attend a classical rehabilitation program with moderate exercise intensity. Current exercise program for cardiac rehabilitation has proven to reduce cardiovascular risk factors 1. Is it possible to improve the exercise capacity and risk profile even more if the exercise program includes more vigorous training? The program starts one week after the cardiac incident (AMI, PCI or CABG) and takes 12 weeks to complete. Patients with heart failure and valvular disease are excluded. First ventilatory threshold (VT1) and second ventilatory threshold (VT2) are determined during cycloerometry. VT2 reflects aerobic-anaerobic transition and therefore the aerobic functional capacity2. Exercise load reached at VT2 is used to determine the training load during rehabilitation. The research goal is to investigate the influence of training intensity on the exercise capacity and risk profile of CAD patients.

Official Title
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Influence of Training Intensity on Exercise Capacity and Risk Profile in Coronary Artery Disease

Conditions
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Coronary Artery Disease

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Training intensity (workload) during ergospirometry


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), who underwent a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). The 12-week program must be completed. Exclusion Criteria: Patients with heart failure (HFpEF and HFrEF with ejection fraction ≤40%) and valvular heart disease.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 25 Years
Maximum Age: 90 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) patients<br>Patients with proven coronary artery disease, who underwent the full cardiac revalidation program at Jessa Hospital from 10-1-2013 till 12-9-2016. | Other: Training intensity (workload) during ergospirometry<br>* The reached workload (W) during each training is noted during 12 weeks of rehabilitation. The relative intensity is expressed as a percentage of VT1 and VT2.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| exercise capacity | The primary endpoint is the relationship between the actual training load (W) and exercise capacity (VO2max) obtained at the end of the rehabilitation. | up to week 12 | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| cardiovascular risk profile | The secondary endpoint is the relationship between relative training load and the cardiovascular risk factors. | up to week 12 |