Experimental Biology Poster 2006

1
Results
Four Weeks of Exercise Rehabilitation Improves
Exercise Capacity and Coronary Risk in Men with
CVD
Table 1. Subject Demographic Variables and
Medication Use
Stephen F. Crouse1, Robert Berent2, Serge P. von
Duvillard3, Peter Schmid2, John S. Green1
1Texas AM University, College Station, TX.
2Center for Cardiovascular Rehabilitation, Bad
Schallerbach, Austria. 3Texas AM
University-Commerce, Commerce, TX.
Values for demographics are mean SD pgt0.05
for all. ACE Inhib ACE inhibitor ATII-RA
Angiotensin II receptor antagonist.
Rehabilitations-und Kurzentrum Austria, Bad
Schallerbach, Austria

• Our 4-week program of residential CR did not
  significantly reduce body weight (-1.6) or BMI
  (-1) (Table 1). By the end of the CR program,
  more men were receiving medications aimed at
  controlling cardiovascular symptoms or risk
  factors. The percent increase in the number of
  men receiving medications were as follows
  ß-blocker 6.7, ACE inhibitors 15.6,
  ATII-RA 20, Statin 27.3. There was no
  increase in the number of men receiving Ca
  blocker after CR, and none were receiving fibrate
  by the end of the CR program.
• The CR program with exercise training resulted in
  a significant increase in VO2peak (9.6) and in
  maximum cycle ergometer power (12.7),
  accompanied by a decrease in resting heart rate
  (-6.3), systolic blood pressure (-2.9), and
  diastolic blood pressure (-5.8). (Figures 1, 5,
  6).
• As illustrated in Figures 2-4, residential CR
  resulted in a significant reduction in blood
  triglycerides (-23.7), cholesterol (-14.7),
  LDL-C (-27.1), non-HDL-C (-19.4), total
  cholesterol to HDL-C ratio (-17.9), triglyceride
  to HDL-C ratio (-26.9), apo A-1 (-3.1), apo B
  (-16.7), and in the apo B to apo A-1 ratio
  (-14.1).
• A 1.9 rise (43.0 pre-CR to 43.8 mg/dL post-CR)
  in HDL-C was not statistically significant.

Walking Surroundings
Cycling Exercise Facility
RESULTS
Conclusions

• In support of our hypothesis, significant and
  dramatic reductions in CVD risk markers, and
  improvements in functional capacity were found in
  men with heart disease after up to 4 weeks of
  participation in a multi-faceted residential CR
  program.
• Given the strong evidence in the literature that
  improving physical fitness combined with lowering
  CVD risk markers reduces primary and secondary
  CVD risk, these patients should experience a
  comparatively lower CVD morbidity and mortality,
  provided they sustain the improvements made
  during the program when they return to
  free-living.

p lt 0.0002 for all comparisons
p lt 0.0001 for all comparisons
p lt 0.005 for all comparisons
p lt 0.005 for all comparisons
p lt 0.0001 for all comparisons
p lt 0.02
p lt 0.0001