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September 1, 2026Wiener klinische Wochenschrift

Early post-PCI cardiac rehab increases LVEF by ~3% and improves exercise capacity versus usual care.

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Why the study?

The effects of exercise-based early cardiac rehabilitation initiated within 24 hours after AMI and PCI on cardiac function and functional capacity were evaluated.

Does exercise-based early cardiac rehabilitation initiated within 24 hours post-PCI improve cardiac function and functional capacity at 12 weeks in clinically stable AMI patients?

Population

24 clinically stable AMI patients within 24 h of successful PCI

Comparison

EB-ECR vs usual care without structured cardiac rehabilitation

Design

Single-center parallel-group randomized pilot trial

Follow-up

12 weeks

Key result

Exercise-based early cardiac rehabilitation initiated within 24 hours post-PCI increased LVEF by 2.8% (95% CI 0.9-4.8%; p=0.007) and improved exercise capacity at 12 weeks compared to usual care.

Authors

KCKaiyuan CenFAFatimah AhmedyMMMexmollen Marcus

Discussion

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Overview

Supports early exercise-based rehabilitation within 24 h post-PCI in stable AMI; extends evidence on LVEF and capacity gains from small RCT.

Key Points

  • To evaluate the effects of exercise-based early cardiac rehabilitation initiated within 24 hours of percutaneous coronary intervention on cardiac function and functional capacity at 12 weeks in acute myocardial infarction patients.
  • Single-center, parallel-group randomized pilot trial conducted at a tertiary hospital.
  • Randomized 24 clinically stable patients (1:1) within 24 hours of successful percutaneous coronary intervention to early exercise-based rehabilitation (n = 12) or usual care without structured rehabilitation (n = 12).
  • Evaluated left ventricular ejection fraction, peak oxygen uptake, 6-minute walk distance, and B-type natriuretic peptide at 12-week follow-up.
  • Early rehabilitation significantly increased left ventricular ejection fraction by 2.8% (95% CI 0.9–4.8%; p = 0.007) and peak oxygen uptake by 2.7 mL·kg−1·min−1 (95% CI 1.5–4.0 mL·kg−1·min−1; p < 0.001) compared to usual care.
  • Rehabilitation participants improved 6-minute walk distance by 24.0 m (95% CI 5.6–42.3 m; p = 0.013) and had an 18.3% lower B-type natriuretic peptide level (geometric mean ratio 0.82; 95% CI −25.7% to −10.1%; p < 0.001).
  • No serious adverse events occurred; one major adverse cardiovascular event occurred in the rehabilitation group compared to none in the usual care group.

Study Design

Type

RCT (n=24)

Randomization

1:1

Multicenter

No

Structured PICO

Does exercise-based early cardiac rehabilitation initiated within 24 hours post-PCI improve cardiac function and functional capacity at 12 weeks in clinically stable AMI patients?

P
Population
24 clinically stable patients within 24 hours of successful PCI for acute myocardial infarction, followed for 12 weeks.
I
Intervention
Exercise-based early cardiac rehabilitation (EB-ECR), consisting of an individualized, phased rehabilitation program initiated in-hospital within 24 hours post-PCI and continued postdischarge.
C
Comparator
Usual care without structured cardiac rehabilitation (NO-CR).
O
Outcome
Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), peak oxygen uptake (VO2 peak), 6-minute walk distance (6 MWT) and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) at 12 weeks.surrogate

Main Result

Mean Difference: 2.8 (95% CI 0.9–4.8)

p-value: p=0.007

Initiation of exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation within 24 hours of PCI for AMI is feasible and significantly improves cardiac function and exercise capacity at 12 weeks.

Cite This Study

Cen et al. (2026) conducted an RCT in Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) (n=24). Exercise-based early cardiac rehabilitation (EB-ECR) vs. Usual care without structured cardiac rehabilitation (NO-CR) was evaluated on Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), peak oxygen uptake (VO2 peak), 6-minute walk distance (6 MWT) and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) at 12 weeks (MD 2.8%, 95% CI 0.9-4.8, p=0.007). Exercise-based early cardiac rehabilitation initiated within 24 hours post-PCI increased LVEF by 2.8% (95% CI 0.9-4.8%; p=0.007) and improved exercise capacity at 12 weeks compared to usual care.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a969c2a535111e2d4ce8d1bhttps://doi.org/10.1007/s00508-026-02806-9
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Also Consider

Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context:

  1. 1Design and Rationale of the EARMI Trial: A Randomized Controlled Trial on Early-Phase Cardiac Rehabilitation Post-PCI in AMI Patients2026 · 1 citations
  2. 2The Impact of Early Regular Cardiac Rehabilitation Program on Myocardial Function after Acute Myocardial Infarction2011 · 29 citations
  3. 3Cardiac rehabilitation in acute myocardial infarction patients after percutaneous coronary intervention2018 · 122 citations
  4. 4Effect of Cardiac Rehabilitation on Left Ventricular Remodeling After Acute Anterior Wall ST Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction Treated by Late PCI Using 3D Echocardiography: A Randomized Study2024 · 1 citations
  5. 5Effect of very short-term inpatient cardiac rehabilitation programs in acute myocardial infarction patients treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention2017