Cardiac Rehabilitation in Older Coronary Patients

The majority of patients presenting with acute coronary disease or undergoing coronary revascularization procedures are older than age 65. Disability rates are very high in these patient populations, particularly in women, the older-old, and patients with clinical manifestations of angina pectoris or chronic heart failure. The presence of mental depression is also an important determinant of poor physical functioning. Cardiac rehabilitation has been demonstrated to safely increase aerobic capacity, muscular strength, and endurance in older coronary populations.