The effect of cardiac rehabilitation on left and right ventricular function in post primary PCI patients()

OBJECTIVE: Acute myocardial infarction is the most severe manifestation of coronary artery disease. Cardiac rehabilitation programs following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) assist patients to get back to their daily routine and can improve their cardiovascular health. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of cardiac rehabilitation in patients after primary PCI on the left and right ventricular function. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, patient who underwent primary PCI following myocardial infarction were included. Month after the PCI procedure, 5 sessions of cardiac rehabilitation program were performed based on the patient's symptoms and according to the diagnosis by cardiologist. The duration of each rehabilitation session started from 20 min in the first session and reached 60 min in the last session. Exercises included walking on a treadmill and pedaling a stationary bike with limbs. Ventricular function was assessed after primary PCI and after the rehabilitation program. Patients were followed up by telephone after one year of the rehabilitation program. RESULTS: 30 patients were enrolled in the study, 23 of whom were male (76.7%). Right ventricular function did not change after the cardiac rehabilitation program compared to before (p = 1.00). Left ventricular function significantly increased after rehabilitation (p = 0.003). Increased left ventricular function was significant only in males (p < 0.001). Cardiac rehabilitation program in people over 60 years did not change left ventricular function (p < 0.05). One year after the cardiac rehabilitation program, 3 patients (10%) died. CONCLUSION: The findings of our study showed that the implementation of an exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation program improves left ventricular function in patients with myocardial infarction after primary PCI but does not affect right ventricular function. The findings also showed that cardiac rehabilitation program may be associated with the gender and the age of the patients.