Key result
Suspending cardiac rehabilitation for four months is linked to a ~1-MET drop in exercise capacity.
Why the study?
Cardiac rehabilitation services were temporarily suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic, but the effect of this suspension on exercise capacity and metabolic parameters was unknown.
Does a 4-month suspension of cardiac rehabilitation during the COVID-19 pandemic reduce exercise capacity and worsen metabolic parameters in patients following acute coronary syndrome?
Cohort (n=198)
Does a 4-month suspension of cardiac rehabilitation during the COVID-19 pandemic reduce exercise capacity and worsen metabolic parameters in patients following acute coronary syndrome?
Absolute Event Rate: 7.1% vs 8.1%
p-value: p=<0.001
A 4-month suspension of cardiac rehabilitation during the COVID-19 pandemic led to a significant decline in exercise capacity and increased body weight in patients with recent acute coronary syndrome.
Interrupting cardiac rehabilitation may worsen exercise capacity and weight post-ACS; leaves open need for continuity strategies in future disruptions.
BACKGROUND: Cardiac rehabilitation improves prognosis and symptoms in cardiac patients. In 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, cardiac rehabilitation services were temporarily suspended between April and August. We aimed to investigate the effect of cardiac rehabilitation suspension during the COVID-19 pandemic on patients' exercise capacity and metabolic parameters. METHODS: Included were patients undergoing cardiac rehabilitation following hospital admission for ACS. Exercise capacity, weight and body fat percentage were compared between baseline, pre- and post-lockdown visits. RESULTS: A total of 281 patients participated in the cardiac rehabilitation program prior to its suspension. Of them, only 198 (70%) patients returned to the program on its renewal and were included in the analysis. Exercise capacity improved significantly in the pre-lockdown stress test compared to baseline. However, there was a significant decrease in exercise capacity in the post compared to pre-lockdown test (8.1±6.3 and 7.1±2.1 METs in pre- and post-lockdown measurements, respectively, p<0.001). Of the 99 (50%) of patients that demonstrated at least 10% improvement in exercise capacity in the pre-lockdown test, 48(48.5%) patients returned to their baseline values in the post-lockdown test. Post-lockdown assessment demonstrated a significant weight gain (80.3 and 81.1kg, in pre- and post-lockdown measurements, respectively, p<0.001) as well as an increase in visceral fat level and body fat percentage. CONCLUSIONS: Cardiac rehabilitation suspension for 4 months during COVID-19 pandemic caused a significant reduction in exercise capacity and increased weight and body fat percent. These findings highlight the importance of remote cardiac rehabilitation services that can continue uninterrupted in times of pandemic.
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Haskiah et al. (2022) conducted a cohort in Acute coronary syndrome (n=198). Cardiac rehabilitation suspension (COVID-19 lockdown) vs. Pre-lockdown active cardiac rehabilitation was evaluated on Exercise capacity (METs) (p=<0.001). Suspension of cardiac rehabilitation for 4 months significantly reduced exercise capacity from 8.1 to 7.1 METs (p<0.001) and increased body weight from 80.3 to 81.1 kg (p<0.001).
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