Impact of cardiac rehabilitation on ventricular-arterial coupling and left ventricular function in patients with acute myocardial infarction

Impact of cardiac rehabilitation on ventricular-arterial coupling and left ventricular function in patients with acute myocardial infarction PLoS One . 2024 Apr 4;19(4):e0300578. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0300578 Abstract To maintain efficient myocardial function, optimal coordination between ventricular contraction and the arterial system is required. Exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation (CR) has been demonstrated to improve left ventricular (LV) function. This study aimed to investigate the impact of cardiac rehabilitation on ventricular-arterial coupling (VAC) and its components, as well as their associations with changes in LV function in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and preserved or mildly reduced ejection fraction (EF). Effective arterial elastance (EA) and index (EAI) were calculated from the stroke volume and brachial systolic blood pressure. Effective left ventricular end-systolic elastance (ELV) and index (ELVI) were obtained using the single-beat method. The characteristic impedance (Zc) of the aortic root was calculated after Fourier transformation of both aortic pressure and flow waveforms. Pulse wave separation analysis was performed to obtain the reflection magnitude (RM). An exercise-based, outpatient cardiac rehabilitation (CR) program was administered for up to 6 months. Twenty-nine patients were studied. However, eight patients declined to participate in the cardiac rehabilitation program and were subsequently classified as the non- cardiac rehabilitation group. At baseline, E' velocity showed significant associations with EAI (beta -0.393; P = 0.027) and VAC (beta -0.375; P = 0.037). There were also significant associations of LV global longitudinal strain (LV GLS) with EAI (beta 0.467; P = 0.011). Follow-up studies after a minimum of 6 months demonstrated a significant increase in E' velocity (P = 0.035), improved EF (P = 0.010), and LV GLS (P = 0.001), and a decreased EAI (P = 0.025) only in the cardiac rehabilitation group. Changes in E' velocity were significantly associated with changes in EAI (beta -0.424; P = 0.033). Increased aortic afterload and ventricular-arterial mismatch were associated with a negative impact on both left ventricular diastolic and systolic function. The outpatient cardiac rehabilitation program effectively decreased aortic afterload and improved left ventricular diastolic and systolic dysfunction in patients with acute myocardial infarction and preserved or mildly reduced Ejection Fraction.   Disclaimer: Lupin makes no representation or warranty of any kind, expressed or implied, regarding the accuracy, adequacy, validity, reliability, availability, or completeness of any scientific information shared by the HCP on the ­­­STAR UPDATE podcast. You should not allow the contents of this to substitute for your own medical judgment, which you should exercise in evaluating the information on this website