Effects of a comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation program in patients with coronary heart disease in Korea

The purpose of this study was to develop a comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation program that considered patients' learning needs and cultural context, and to identify the impact of this program on patients with coronary heart disease in Korea. We employed a quasi-experimental design to evaluate the effects of the developed program in 61 patients with coronary heart disease. The experimental group received education, counseling, educational materials, and telephone follow-ups by cardiac nurses for six months. Results showed that participants of the program exhibited reduced body mass index and waist circumference as well as improved left ventricular diastolic function and cardiac disease-related quality of life. There was no significant difference between the groups with the rate of recurring symptoms or cardiac events. This comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation program safely and effectively improved body composition, cardiac function, and quality of life in patients with coronary heart disease.