Article

PURPOSE: To examine the effect of a cardiac rehabilitation program with
relaxation therapy (CPRT) in comparison with cardiac rehabilitation alone on
psychological stress, hemodynamic variables, cardiac risk factors, and
cardiac-related hospital admissions in patients with coronary artery disease.
METHODS: Patients (N = 81) were randomly assigned to either a 12-week cardiac
rehabilitation program alone (CPA) or a CPRT. Perceived stress, blood pressure,
heart rate, rate-pressure product value, total cholesterol level, body mass
index, smoking status, and physical activity were recorded at baseline and
following the 12-week intervention. Cardiac-related hospital admissions were
analyzed in a 2-year follow-up. RESULTS: Perceived stress declined in both
groups, although this improvement was significantly superior in the CPRT (31.5
+/- 4.9 vs 23.4 +/- 4.1; P <or= .0001). CPRT, but not CPA, had significantly
lower heart rate, blood pressure, and rate-pressure product values after the
program (P <or= .0001). Both groups improved smoking status, physical activity,
body mass index, and total cholesterol level. During follow-up, the odds of being
admitted to the hospital with cardiac-related problems, after adjusting for heart
rate, blood pressure, smoking status, physical activity status, and total
cholesterol (OR, 0.37; 95% CI, 0.045-2.98), was not significantly different
between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Relaxation therapy was associated with a positive
effect on psychological stress and hemodynamic variables beyond that promoted by
cardiac rehabilitation alone.

Langue : ANGLAIS

Tiré à part : OUI