The EFFECTS OF CARDIAC REHABILITATION ON FUNCTIONAL EXERCISE CAPACITY IN PATIENTS WITH POST CORONARY ARTERY BYPASS GRAFT

Abstract

Cardiovascular diseases pose a major global public health issue and are the leading cause of illness and death. To address this, the American Heart Association has advocated for cardiac rehabilitation programs as a vital part of treatment to enhance patients' functional capacity. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of cardiac rehabilitation on the functional status of individuals who underwent coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. Objective: to determine the effects of cardiac rehabilitation on functional exercise capacity in patients with post-coronary artery bypass graft. Materials and Methods: Researchers conducted a cross-sectional investigation involving both genders with coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery. The selection of participants was carried out through convenient non-probability sampling from those admitted to cardiac rehabilitation units. During their hospitalization, the patients underwent a 6-minute walk test (6MWT) aimed at evaluating their functional capacity. The principal focus of the study was the distance traversed during the 6-minute walk test. Results: Among a total of 105 patients, 55 (52.4%) were male and 50 (47.6%) were female. The average age was 54.17 years with a range of 40 to 65 years. The mean height was 64.23 cm ranging from 59 to 72 cm, and the mean weight was 57.66 kg with a range of 37 to 97 kg. The 6-minute walk test distance before cardiac rehabilitation was 433.06 m on average (ranging from 400 to 460 m), while after rehabilitation, it increased to 494.92 m on average (ranging from 470 to 520 m). There were significant differences observed in the 6-minute walk test results before and after rehabilitation, as well as in relation to the New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional classification (p<0.05). Conclusion: A significant difference was observed between the 6-minute walk test results before and after cardiac rehabilitation. This implies that participating in a cardiac rehabilitation program can have a meaningful impact on the functional capacity of patients.