Features of functional recovery in obese patients with acute myocardial infarction

The increasing prevalence of obesity within the general population necessitates the development of effective rehabilitation strategies for post-myocardial infarction patients with excess body weight. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of obesity on the functional recovery of patients undergoing rehabilitation following acute myocardial infarction. The rehabilitation outcomes of patients experiencing their first-ever acute myocardial infarction were analysed. These individuals had been admitted to a specialised cardiac intensive care and resuscitation unit, receiving treatment in accordance with established clinical protocols. The cohort included patients with class I obesity as well as those with a normal body weight. The rehabilitation programme lasted for three months and comprised physical activity, dietary habit modification, psychological support, and educational interventions aimed at preventing cardiovascular diseases. Recovery efficacy was assessed using body mass index, myocardial functional status, physical endurance level (six-minute walk test), and quality of life (SF-36). The findings demonstrated a positive effect of the rehabilitation measures on patients’ functional recovery. However, it was confirmed that individuals with obesity exhibited less pronounced improvements in quality of life (r = 0.77; p < 0.05), poorer adaptation to physical exertion, and slower recovery of haemodynamic parameters compared with patients of normal weight. Excess body weight was found to complicate the rehabilitation process, reduce its effectiveness, and prolong the recovery period. This underscores the rationale for a personalised rehabilitation approach that takes into account the degree of heart failure, pre-morbid physical fitness, and comorbidities. The results obtained may be applied to the development of individualised rehabilitation programmes aimed at improving treatment efficacy, reducing complication risks, and enhancing quality of life in post-myocardial infarction patients