Effects of hospital-based cardiac rehabilitation and home-based exercise program in patients with previous myocardial infarction

Background: Exercise-based rehabilitation is an important part of treatment patients following myocardial infarction. Objective: The aim of our study was to compare the effects of exercise therapy on cardiopulmonary parameters by prescribing hospital-based cardiac rehabilitation, home-based exercise program in patients with previous myocardial infarction. Method: We studied 35 post–myocardial infarction patients having a 1-month myocardial infarction history with a stable disease. The patients were randomly assigned to 2 groups as follows: aerobic exercise training group (I), home-based exercise group (II). The group I participated in the aerobic exercise program at the hospital for 6 weeks. Group II was prescribed a home-based gradual physical activity program. Results: It was found that there were significant increases in the values of ejection fraction ( EF), the six-minutes-walk test ( 6-MWT), arm ergometer test, VO2max, anaerobic time in group I. It was also found that there were significant increases in the values of 6-MWT, arm ergometer test, and anaerobic time in group II. The ratio of change in arm ergometer test values was higher in the hospital group. Conclusions: Home-based exercise programs can be a good alternative for patients with low or moderate risk who can't attend hospital-based exercise programs.