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June 27, 2026Respiratory MedicineOpen Access

Cardiac rehabilitation remains equally effective in CHD patients with or without prior COVID-19 infection.

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Why the study?

Post-COVID-19 sequelae may affect baseline physical condition and potentially influence cardiac rehabilitation outcomes in patients with coronary heart disease.

Does prior COVID-19 infection influence the effectiveness of a cardiac rehabilitation programme in patients with coronary heart disease?

Population

77 CHD patients enrolled in a supervised CR programme

Comparison

Patients with prior COVID-19 vs without prior COVID-19

Design

Prospective observational study

Key result

Prior COVID-19 infection did not significantly affect response to cardiac rehabilitation in CHD patients, with both groups showing significant within-group improvements across all metrics (p≤0.03).

Authors

ARAlba María Robledo RodríguezMSMaría del Carmen Valdivieso SánchezPFPablo Antonio Toledo Frías

Discussion

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Overview

CR yields comparable gains post-program in CHD patients with or without prior COVID-19; leaves open causality and generalizability to randomized cohorts.

Key Points

  • This study aims to compare physical condition and rehabilitation outcomes between coronary heart disease patients with and without prior COVID-19 infection.
  • Prospective observational study design with 77 patients enrolled in cardiac rehabilitation program.
  • Participants categorized based on prior COVID-19 infection status.
  • Intervention included individualized aerobic, strength, and respiratory muscle training.
  • Both groups showed significant improvements in measures like body mass index and inspiratory muscle strength (p≤0.03).
  • No significant differences between groups at baseline or post-intervention, except for vitality and health transition domains (p≤0.02).
  • Structured cardiac rehabilitation correlated with significant enhancements in quality of life and functional capacity in patients.

Study Design

Type

Observational (n=77)

Structured PICO

Does prior COVID-19 infection influence the effectiveness of a cardiac rehabilitation programme in patients with coronary heart disease?

P
Population
77 patients with coronary heart disease enrolled in a supervised cardiac rehabilitation programme, evaluated based on prior COVID-19 infection.
E
Exposure
Supervised cardiac rehabilitation programme (individualized aerobic, strength, and respiratory muscle training) in patients with prior COVID-19 infection
C
Comparator
Supervised cardiac rehabilitation programme in patients without prior COVID-19 infection
O
Outcome
Changes in inspiratory muscle strength, hand grip force, cardiorespiratory function, and quality of lifesurrogate

Prior COVID-19 infection does not significantly attenuate the functional and quality of life benefits of cardiac rehabilitation in patients with coronary heart disease.

Limitations

  • observational design
  • limited clinical characterization of COVID-19

Cite This Study

Rodríguez et al. (2026) conducted an observational in coronary heart disease (n=77). Prior COVID-19 infection vs. No prior COVID-19 infection was evaluated on body mass index, abdominal circumference, inspiratory muscle strength, manual grip force, cardiorespiratory function and health-related quality of life. Prior COVID-19 infection did not significantly affect response to cardiac rehabilitation in CHD patients, with both groups showing significant within-group improvements across all metrics (p≤0.03).

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a3f9785125782b61d865760https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rmed.2026.108983
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