Standing balance training added to conventional cardiac rehabilitation improved walking speed and was associated with a reduced risk of cardiac events (HR 0.408) in elderly patients with ischemic heart disease.
Cohort (n=92)
No
Does standing balance training added to conventional cardiac rehabilitation improve walking speed and reduce cardiac events in elderly patients with ischemic heart disease?
Adding standing balance training to conventional cardiac rehabilitation improves walking speed and may reduce long-term cardiac events in elderly patients with ischemic heart disease.
Effect estimate: HR 0.408 (95% CI 0.162-1.029)
Absolute Event Rate: 14.5% vs 36.7%
p-value: p=0.058
The purpose of this study was to clarify the effect of standing balance training on walking speed (short-term outcome) and cardiac events (long-term outcome) in elderly ischemic heart disease (IHD) patients. This was a retrospective cohort study. Ninety-two elderly (≥ 65 years) IHD patients who underwent an inpatient cardiac rehabilitation program were assigned to two groups: a balance group that received standing balance training in addition to conventional (aerobic and resistance) training and a conventional group. Standing balance was assessed by one-leg standing time and a postural stability index reflecting dynamic balance, and normal walking speed was measured at baseline and hospital discharge. Patients were followed for up to 3 years or until a cardiac event occurred. There were no significant differences in clinical characteristics between the groups. Both groups showed a significant change in normal walking speed from baseline to hospital discharge (P < 0.001, respectively), and normal walking speed was significantly higher in the balance group compared to the conventional group (P = 0.001). The postural stability index improved significantly only in the balance group (P = 0.005). Multivariable analyses using Cox proportional hazards model confirmed that standing balance training (hazard ratio HR: 0.408; 95% confidence interval CI: 0.162-1.029; P = 0.058) and fast walking speed (HR: 0.362; 95% CI: 0.137-0.957; P = 0.041) were associated with cardiac events. These findings show that standing balance training improves walking speed and reduces cardiac events, and suggests that such training can be an effective intervention for elderly IHD patients.
Yamamoto et al. (Wed,) conducted a cohort in Ischemic heart disease (n=92). Standing balance training vs. Conventional training (aerobic and resistance training) was evaluated on Cardiac events (cardiac death, admission for heart failure, or myocardial infarction) (HR 0.408, 95% CI 0.162-1.029, p=0.058). Standing balance training added to conventional cardiac rehabilitation improved walking speed and was associated with a reduced risk of cardiac events (HR 0.408) in elderly patients with ischemic heart disease.