Article

Promoting an active lifestyle through an appropriate physical exercise
prescription is one of the major targets of cardiac rehabilitation. However,
information on the effectiveness of cardiac rehabilitation in promoting lifestyle
changes in elderly patients is still scant. DESIGN: In 131 patients over the age
of 65 yrs (86 men, and 45 women, mean age 75 yrs +/- 6 SD) who have attended
postacute inpatient cardiac rehabilitation after cardiac surgery, we tested the
1-yr adherence to the physical exercise prescription received at the end of the
cardiac rehabilitation by using a questionnaire on physical activity and the
6-min walk test. RESULTS: All of the 36 patients who reported an active lifestyle
and 49 of the 95 patients who reported a sedentary lifestyle in the year
preceding the cardiac operation reported at least 1 hr/day on 5 days each week of
light regular physical activity in the year after the cardiac rehabilitation.
Further, the distance walked at the follow-up 6-min walk test was significantly
related to the physical activity score gathered from the questionnaire.
CONCLUSIONS: Our data show that 65% of the elderly patients who have attended
postacute inpatient cardiac rehabilitation after cardiac surgery are still
capable of recovering or even increasing their regular physical activity and of
maintaining these favorable lifestyle changes at least for 1 yr.

Langue : ANGLAIS