Clinical Outcomes of Cardiac Rehabilitation in Women with Coronary Artery Disease—Differences in Comparison with Men

Abstract

This study evaluated the clinical outcomes of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) in women with coronary artery disease (CAD) in comparison to men. Methods: Patients after acute coronary syndrome or after revascularization procedures (106 women, 180 men) were consecutively admitted to a comprehensive outpatient CR program, comprising of 45-min ergometer interval training three times a week for eight weeks. The training intensity was determined on the basis of training heart rate, calculated following an exercise test. Patients were divided into subgroups according to age (≤55, >55 years), BMI (<25, ≥25 kg/m2), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF; ≤40%, 41–49%, ≥50%), and number of affected coronary vessels. Results: After eight weeks, exercise capacity increased significantly by 0.6 ± 0.77 MET (women) and by 1.0 ± 0.74 MET (men). The greatest benefit was observed in men, women under 55 years, women with LVEF 41–49%, and women with single-vessel CAD. An outpatient CR program appears less beneficial for women, especially those over 55 years, with two or three coronary vessels affected with atherosclerosis or with LVEF > 50%. In women with CAD, eight weeks of 45-min interval training, with sessions three times a week, is insufficient to improve exercise capacity to an extent that is considered a predictor of mortality risk reduction.