부산대학교 도서관

OBJECTIVE:: Arterial stiffness (AS) - assessed as carotid-femoral cfPWV - is an independent predictor of cardiovascular risk in patients with arterial hypertension (AH), and strongly linked to the pathogenesis of AH per se. The occurrence of AS also affects the functioning of the coronary circulation and ischemic heart disease. As demonstrated in previous studies, AS decreases in patients after myocardial infarction undergoing cardiac rehabilitation.The aim of the study was to assess whether the coexistence of AH affects the results of cardiac rehabilitation for improving the cfPWV in patients after acute coronary syndrome (ACS).(Figure is included in full-text article.) DESIGN AND METHOD:: The population of the study consists of 90 patients treated in the study center during and after ACS. All the patients were offered participation in the program of early CR. Patients were divided into 3 groups due to the presence (+) or absence (-) of AH and participation in CR. Follow up of all patients include 3 visits: v1 – before CR (2 weeks +/- 7 days after ACS), v2 – after a completed program of CR or the corresponding time for the group of patients who didn’t participate in CR, v3 (6 months +/- 2 weeks after ACS). During each visit, we determine AS measuring (cfPWV) by the means of the Complior device. Differences between groups and individual visits were calculated using ANOVA tests. RESULTS:: Results are present in Table 1 (mean (SD) of cfPWV). CONCLUSIONS:: CR reduces cfPWV in patients after ACS independently of the coexistence of AH. The improvement is maintained at 6-month follow-up.