Differential effects of high-frequency versus low-frequency exercise training in rehabilitation of patients with coronary artery disease

• Published in: Journal of the American College of Cardiology 2000-07, Vol.36 (1), p.202-207
• Main Authors: Nieuwland, Wybe, Berkhuysen, Marike A, van Veldhuisen, Dirk J, Brügemann, Johan, Landsman, Martin L.J, van Sonderen, Eric, Lie, K.I, Crijns, Harry J.G.M, Rispens, Piet
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Anaerobic Threshold - physiology; Biological and medical sciences; Breath Tests; Cardiology. Vascular system; Coronary Disease - metabolism; Coronary Disease - physiopathology; Coronary Disease - rehabilitation; Coronary heart disease; Costs and Cost Analysis; Exercise Therapy - economics; Exercise Therapy - methods; Female; Heart; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Oxygen - analysis; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 0735-1097; 1558-3597
• DOI: 10.1016/S0735-1097(00)00692-6

OBJECTIVES We sought to study the influence of frequency of exercise training during cardiac rehabilitation on functional capacity (i.e., peak oxygen consumption [VO2] and ventilatory anaerobic threshold [VAT]) and quality of life (QoL). BACKGROUND Although the value of cardiac rehabilitation is now well established, the influence of the different program characteristics on outcome has received little attention, and the effect of frequency of exercise training is unclear. Functional capacity is regularly evaluated by peak VO2 but parameters of submaximal exercise capacity such as VAT should also be considered because submaximal exercise capacity is especially important in daily living. METHODS Patients with coronary artery disease (n = 130, 114 men; mean age 52 ± 9 years) were randomized to either a high- or low-frequency program of six weeks (10 or 2 exercise sessions per week of 2 h, respectively). Functional capacity and QoL were assessed before and after cardiac rehabilitation. Global costs were also compared. RESULTS Compared with baseline, mean exercise capacity increased in both programs: for high- and low-frequency, respectively: peak VO2 = 15% and 12%, Wmax = 18% and 12%, VAT = 35% and 12% (all p < 0.001). However, when the programs were compared, only VAT increased significantly more during the high-frequency program (p = 0.002). During the high-frequency program, QoL increased slightly more, and more individuals improved in subjective physical functioning (p = 0.014). We observed superiority of the high-frequency program, especially in younger patients. Mean costs were estimated at 4,455 and 2,273 Euro, respectively, for the high- and low-frequency programs. CONCLUSIONS High-frequency exercise training is more effective in terms of VAT and QoL, but peak VO2 improves equally in both programs. Younger patients seem to benefit more from the high-frequency training.