The effect of early rehabilitation nursing on the recovery of cardiac function in patients with acute myocardial infarction

Q: What are the key findings of this study?

Structured early rehabilitation nursing significantly reduced 6-month MACE incidence compared with routine nursing (8.28% vs. 21.02%, p=0.021) in AMI patients after PCI.

Q: What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: RCT. Population: Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) (n=314). Intervention: Structured early rehabilitation nursing vs. Routine nursing (postoperative education, 12 h bed rest, assisted ambulation starting on postoperative day 3, discharge guidance). Primary outcome: Total incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE: composite of angina pectoris, arrhythmia, and coronary restenosis) at 6 months (ARR 12.74%, p=0.021).

Q: What does this research mean for the field?

Structured early rehabilitation nursing significantly reduces 6-month major adverse cardiovascular events and improves cardiac function and quality of life in patients with acute myocardial infarction following percutaneous coronary intervention. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

Zhiwei Feng; Mingke Zhang; Qingzhu Qin

doi:10.1186/s41043-026-01326-6

October 30, 2026Journal of Health Population and NutritionOpen Access

The effect of early rehabilitation nursing on the recovery of cardiac function in patients with acute myocardial infarction

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Share

Key result

Early rehabilitation nursing cuts 6-month MACE by ~13 percentage points vs. routine care after PCI.

Why the study?

The effect of implementing early rehabilitation nursing on cardiac function recovery and prognosis after PCI in patients with AMI needed investigation.

Does structured early rehabilitation nursing improve cardiac function indices, reduce major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), and enhance quality of life at 6 months in patients with acute myocardial infarction undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention?

Key Points

To investigate the effect of structured early rehabilitation nursing on cardiac function indices, adverse cardiovascular events, and quality of life in patients with acute myocardial infarction following percutaneous coronary intervention.
Participants were randomly allocated using a random number table method to receive either structured early rehabilitation nursing (n=157) or routine postoperative nursing (n=157).
Echocardiographic parameters, 6-minute walking distance, major adverse cardiovascular events, and WHO-QOL-BREF quality-of-life scores were evaluated at baseline and 6 months post-intervention.
At 6 months, the observation group achieved significantly higher stroke volume (72.82 ± 8.21 vs. 64.65 ± 6.89 mL, p = 0.025), lower left ventricular end-diastolic volume (132.56 ± 13.64 vs. 140.62 ± 14.32 mL, p = 0.019), and greater 6-minute walking distance (468.69 ± 26.71 vs. 422.63 ± 28.03 m, p = 0.005), with a marginally higher left ventricular ejection fraction (53.65 ± 7.23% vs. 51.63 ± 6.62%, p = 0.053).
The total incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events was significantly lower in the observation group than in the control group (8.28% vs. 21.02%, p = 0.021), including fewer episodes of angina pectoris (5 vs. 11), arrhythmia (4 vs. 13), and coronary restenosis (4 vs. 9).
Quality-of-life scores were significantly higher in the observation group across all five domains, including physical (p = 0.012), social (p = 0.020), psychological (p = 0.003), environmental (p = 0.001), and overall synthesis (p = 0.004).

Study Design

Type

RCT (n=314)

Blinding

Unblinded (lack of blinding noted in limitations)

Randomization

Random number table method with allocation concealed using sequentially numbered, opaque envelopes

Multicenter

No

Structured PICO

Does structured early rehabilitation nursing improve cardiac function indices, reduce major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), and enhance quality of life at 6 months in patients with acute myocardial infarction undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention?

P

Population

314 adults in China with acute myocardial infarction (NYHA class II-IV) undergoing successful PCI, mean age ~58 years (~20% female), followed for 6 months.

I

Intervention

Structured, phase-specific early rehabilitation nursing implemented by trained cardiac nurses starting within 24 h after PCI and continuing for 6 months (Phase 1 on post-op day 1: bedside care, passive ROM, breathing exercises, psychological support; Phase 2 on days 2–3: active ROM, bedside standing, daily living training, health education; Phase 3 on days 4–7: ward/hallway ambulation, strength training, diet guidance; Discharge to 6 months: individualized daily home walking program for 10–15 min/d at target HR 85–90 bpm, monthly telephone follow-up, and 3-month outpatient visits).

C

Comparator

Routine postoperative nursing (postoperative education immediately after PCI, bed rest for 12 h postoperatively, assisted ambulation starting on postoperative day 3, and discharge guidance on home care, medication adherence, and follow-up schedules).

O

Outcome

Cardiac function indices (stroke volume [SV], left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF], left ventricular end-diastolic volume [LVEDV] measured by echocardiography, and 6-minute walking distance [6MWD]), major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE: composite of angina pectoris, arrhythmia documented by ECG, and coronary restenosis confirmed by coronary angiography), and quality of life (WHO-QOL-BREF scores across 5 domains) at 6 months after PCI.composite

Main Result

Absolute Risk Reduction: 12.74

Absolute Event Rate: 8.28% vs 21.02%

Absolute Risk Reduction: 12.74%

p-value: p=0.021

Implementing a structured early rehabilitation nursing protocol within 24 hours after PCI in patients with acute myocardial infarction significantly improves 6-month cardiac function, exercise capacity, and quality of life while reducing the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events compared to routine nursing.

Limitations

Single-centre design may limit generalisability
Small sample size may have obscured subgroup differences (e.g. age, NYHA class)
Lack of prospective registration and blinding may introduce bias
Long-term outcomes > 6 months were not evaluated
Lack of prospective registration and blinding (due to the nature of rehabilitation interventions) may introduce bias

Implication

Supports adoption of structured early rehabilitation nursing post-PCI in AMI; extends prior evidence on cardiac rehabilitation benefits.

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the effect of implementing early rehabilitation nursing on the recovery of cardiac function indices and prognosis after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) treatment in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Patients diagnosed with AMI and treated with PCI between March 2020 and May 2024 were selected as the study participants. This was a prospective randomised controlled trial; patients were randomly allocated to an observation group and a control group using a random number table method (157 cases per group). The control group received routine nursing after surgery, whereas the observation group received structured early rehabilitation nursing. After 6 months of intervention, cardiac function indices, the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and quality of life were compared between the two groups. Cardiac function indices included stroke volume (SV), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV) and 6-minute walking distance (6MWD). The World Health Organization Quality of Life Measurement Brief Form was used to evaluate quality of life. After nursing intervention, the levels of SV, LVEF and 6MWD in the cardiac function indices of the observation group were higher than those of the control group, whereas the levels of LVEDV were lower than those of the control group; the differences between the two groups were significant ( p < 0.05). The total incidence of MACE in the observation group was lower than that in the control group ( p < 0.05). In the comparison of quality-of-life scores, the observation group scored higher than the control group in five domains ( p < 0.05). Early rehabilitation nursing for patients with AMI can effectively improve patients’ cardiac function indices and reduce the risk of MACE, thereby improving their quality of life. ISRCTN18094960.

Discussion

No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.

Cite This Study

Feng et al. (2026) conducted an RCT in Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) (n=314). Structured early rehabilitation nursing vs. Routine nursing (postoperative education, 12 h bed rest, assisted ambulation starting on postoperative day 3, discharge guidance) was evaluated on Total incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE: composite of angina pectoris, arrhythmia, and coronary restenosis) at 6 months (ARR 12.74%, p=0.021). Structured early rehabilitation nursing significantly reduced 6-month MACE incidence compared with routine nursing (8.28% vs. 21.02%, p=0.021) in AMI patients after PCI.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6ae682cae432e7a5c4ef3771 https://doi.org/10.1186/s41043-026-01326-6

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Share

The effect of early rehabilitation nursing on the recovery of cardiac function in patients with acute myocardial infarction

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Main Result

Limitations

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

The effect of early rehabilitation nursing on the recovery of cardiac function in patients with acute myocardial infarction

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Main Result

Limitations

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

Keep reading

Keep reading