1000 Section - Functional Outcomes of Phase II Cardiac Rehabilitation: A Real-world study

Objectives: To study the clinical functional outcomes of patients receiving the outpatient phase II CR program

Design:

Methods: This descriptive analytic study was conducted at the Outpatient CR Clinic, Maharat Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital. Patients enrolled between January 2022 and September 2024 were included. Demographic and clinical data were retrospectively collected from medical records, including age, sex, comorbidities, diagnosis, body mass index (BMI), heart rate, blood pressure, and cardiovascular risk. Functional status and exercise capacity were assessed using the six-minute walk test (6MWT) and the New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class before and after the program.

Results:

Results: A total of 112 patients (76 men) with a mean age of 60 years were included in the study. Among them, 97 (86.6%) patients had coronary artery disease and 14 (12.5%) had congestive heart failure. The six-minute walk distance (6MWD) was compared between baseline and post-program assessments, with a median follow-up of 4 months (IQR 3.0–6.0). The mean 6MWD increased from 312.82 ± 105.29 m to 377.91 ± 93.11 m, showing a mean improvement of 65.08 ± 7.40 m (P < 0.001). Functional class improvement was statistically significant (P < 0.001), and LDL levels decreased from 118 mg/dL to 83 mg/dL (P < 0.001). Furthermore, 69 patients (61.6%) demonstrated an improvement in 6MWD of more than 10% compared with baseline, with those in the group with baseline 6MWD < 300 m showing a significant improvement.

Conclusion:

Conclusion: Participation in a structured cardiac rehabilitation program led to significant improvements in exercise capacity, functional status, and lipid profiles. Notably, patients with lower baseline 6MWD (< 300 m) derived the greatest benefit, underscoring the effectiveness of rehabilitation even in those with limited initial exercise tolerance.