Exercise intervention improves quality of life in older adults after myocardial infarction: randomised clinical trial
Gianluca Campo, Elisabetta Tonet, Giorgio Chiaranda, Gianluigi Sella, Elisa Maietti, Giulia Bugani, Francesco Vitali, Matteo Serenelli, Gianni Mazzoni, Rossella Ruggiero, Giovanni Villani, Simone Biscaglia, Rita Pavasini, Andrea Rubboli, Roberta Campana, Serena Caglioni, Stefano Volpato, Jonathan Myers, Giovanni Grazzi
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To establish the benefits of an early, tailored and low-cost exercise intervention in older patients hospitalised for acute coronary syndrome (ACS). METHODS: The study was a multicentre, randomised assessment of an exercise intervention in patients with ACS ≥70 years with reduced physical performance (as defined by the short physical performance battery (SPPB), value 4-9). The exercise intervention included four supervised sessions (1, 2, 3, 4 months after discharge) and home-based exercises. The control group attended a health education programme only. The outcomes were the 6-month and 1-year effects on physical performance, daily activities, anxiety/depression and quality of life. Finally, 1-year occurrence of adverse events was recorded. RESULTS: Overall, 235 patients with ACS (median age 76 (73-81) years) were randomised 1 month after ACS. Exercise and control groups were well balanced. Exercise intervention improved 6-month and 1-year grip strength and gait speed. Exercise intervention was associated with a better quality of life (as measured by EuroQol-visual analogue scale at 6 months 80 (70-90) vs 70 (50-80) points, p<0.001 and at 1 year 75 (70-87) vs 65 (50-80) points, p<0.001) and with a reduced perception of anxiety and/or depression (6 months: 21% vs 42%, p=0.001; 1 year 32% vs 47%, p=0.03). The occurrence of cardiac death and hospitalisation for cardiac cause was lower in the intervention group (7.5% vs 17%, p=0.04). CONCLUSIONS: The proposed early, tailored, low-cost exercise intervention improves mobility, daily activities, quality of life and outcomes in older patients with ACS. Larger studies are needed to confirm the clinical benefit. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT03021044.