The Patient’s Physiological Status at the Start Determines the Success of the Inpatient Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Program

Figures

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  Figure 1. The effect of inpatient cardiac rehabilitation on physiological parameters: (a) Differences in systolic and diastolic blood pressure are shown. Mean ± standard error of mean (SEM) are given. ***: p < 0.001 (nsyst, dia = 59); (b) Changes in BMI values were examined. Values were expressed as mean ± SEM. ***: p < 0.001 (n = 59); (c,d) Values of cycle ergometry were studied. Measured Watt-values (n = 52) and expected cardiovascular exercise capacity (%) (n = 56) at baseline and at discharge expressed as averaged data ± SEM. Statistical analysis for these comparisons were performed. **: p < 0.01, ***: p < 0.001.

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  Figure 2. Changes in AGE ligand–receptor system by inpatient rehabilitation: (a) AGE levels (n = 51); (b) sRAGE (n = 55); and (c) AGE activity (AGE/sRAGE-quotient) (n = 51) are shown as mean ± SEM. Statistical differences between baseline (T0) and discharge (T1) were determined via the Wilcoxon matched pairs signed rank; *: p < 0.05. Spearman correlation (r) of AGE activity(changes) (T1−T0) with (d) AGE activity(baseline), (e) sRAGE(baseline) and (f) AGE(baseline), respectively, were analyzed (n = 51); simple linear regression is given (red line); statistical relevance for (d,f): ***: p < 0.001. The analysis of the effect of physical activity on (g) the changes of AGE activity (nSport+ = 32, nSport− = 19); (h) the changes in the serum levels of sRAGE (pg/mL) (nSport+ = 35, nSport− = 20); and (i) the serum levels of AGE (nSport+ = 32, nSport− = 19) were performed. Differences between the patient groups with/without daily exercises were measured and the values were expressed as mean ± SEM. *: p < 0.05, **: p < 0.01.

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  Figure 3. Analysis of the risk factors for cardiovascular diseases: the blood levels of (a) glucose (mg/dL) (n = 58), (b) HbA1c (%) (n = 17) were measured as part of the routine blood analysis, and (c) the MPO levels of serum samples (ng/mL) (n = 59) were analyzed by ELISA technique at baseline (T0) and discharge (T1). Individual and mean values (red line) are shown. **: p < 0.01; *: p < 0.05. Spearman correlation (r) between the AGE activity(changes) and (d) blood glucose(changes) (n = 50) and (e) the MPO(changes) (T1−T0) of the serum samples (n = 51) were analyzed. Simple linear regression is given (red line). (f) Schematic representation of the relationship between the CVD risk factors and serum levels of AGEs.

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  Figure 4. Changes in factors of lipid metabolism: (a) the cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL), high density lipoprotein (HDL) and triglyceride (TGL) levels (mg/dL) (n = 59) were analyzed as part of the routine blood analysis and are expressed as mean ± SEM. ***: p < 0.001; (b) differences in retinol-binding protein-4 (RBP-4) levels (µg/L) (n = 55) were measured at T0 and T1 by ELISA technique and are expressed as mean ± SEM. ***: p < 0.001; (c) summary of the effect of lipid metabolism (TGL, HDL) and serum levels of RBP-4 on cardiovascular diseases.