Article

Indices of ventricular repolarization heterogeneity are associated with
future arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. We investigated the effect of
exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation (CR) on these indices in a sample of
Iranian patients. METHODS: Patients (N 122), who had undergone coronary artery
bypass surgery (CABGS), were enrolled in this cohort study.
Sixty patients
attended 15 or more sessions of CR (CR group) and the remaining 62 patients
attended 5 or fewer sessions of CR (control group). A standard 12-lead
electrocardiogram was recorded for each patient. QT interval dispersion (QTd), RR
interval variability (RRV), and heart rate-corrected QTd (QTc-d) were measured 3
times as follow: just before surgery, at the beginning of the first session of
the CR program, and at the end of the 15th session for the CR group or the last
session for the control group. RESULTS: Following completion of the
exercise-training program, the CR group showed a significant decrease in QTd
(Delta = -49.4%, P < .0001) and QTc-d (Delta = 52.8%, P .0001), but not in the
control group (Delta = 13.4% and 17.9%, respectively, P > .05 for both). In both
groups, no statistically significant change in RRV was observed. After adjustment
for variables such as age, gender, digoxin use, beta-blocker use, and
prerehabilitation ejection fraction, CR remained the independent predictor of QTd
and QTc-d. CONCLUSION: Results suggest that cardiac rehabilitation and exercise
training programs significantly improve the indices of ventricular repolarization
heterogeneity in patients with coronary artery disease who received CABGS.

Langue : ANGLAIS

Tiré à part : OUI