Document Type : Original Article(s)

Authors

1 MSc, Department of Physical Education, School of Physical Education, Isfahan University, Isfahan, Iran

2 Associate Professor, Department of Physical Education, School of Physical Education, Isfahan University, Isfahan, Iran

3 General Practitioner, Cardiovascular Research Center, Isfahan Cardiovascular research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.

4 Assistant Professor, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.

5 Associate Professor, Cardiac Rehabilitation Research Center, Isfahan Cardiovascular research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The barriers to participation in cardiac rehabilitation programs are individualand economic problemsas well aslimited availability of rehabilitation services. Because of theimportant role of rehabilitation, home-basedexercise rehabilitation is a new approach toparticipate in such programs. The purpose of this study was to evaluate theeffect of home-basedrehabilitation on quality of life (QoL) in patients with coronary artery disease aftercoronaryartery bypass graft (CABG) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).METHODS: Participants included 18 CABG (3 women, 15 men) and 40 PCI (12 women, 28men) low tomoderate risk patients. Finally, 17 patients in the exercise group and 16 patients inthe control group remained. The SF-36 was used to evaluate changes in QoL before and after theprogram.RESULTS: forty-three percent was dropped out from the program. Before and after program,the exercise group was betterin all domains of QoL (P <0.05). After 8 weeks of cardiacrehabilitation, significant improvements were observed inquality of life in both groups (P<0.05)but the exercise group showed more improvements in three domains.CONCLUSION: Home-based exercise rehabilitation after CABG and PCI may improve QoL andprovide an efficient low-costapproach to cardiac rehabilitation. It may be helpful due to limitedavailability and resources in Iran. Nevertheless,there is a need for more trainingto increaseparticipation and decrease drop outKeywords: Quality of life,Coronary artery bypass grafts, Angioplasty.