Effect of cardiac rehabilitation management on postoperative recovery of athletic patients with coronary heart disease

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to assess the impact of cardiac rehabilitation management on the postoperative recovery of athletic patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) who have undergone percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods: Ninety athletic patients diagnosed with CHD and treated with PCI between January 2021 and June 2022 were selected. These patients were randomly divided into a control group (45 patients) and an observation group (45 patients) using a random number table method. The control group received standard postoperative care, while the observation group participated in a specialized cardiac rehabilitation management program in addition to the standard care. Both groups were monitored and received continuous care for six months. The primary outcomes measured included left ventricular end-systolic diameter (LVESD), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and six-minute walking distance (6MWD). Secondary outcomes assessed were psychological well-being using the self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) and self-rating depression scale (SDS), quality of life through the MOS item short form health survey (SF-36), and the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). Results: Post-intervention, both groups exhibited significant improvements in LVESD, LVEF, and 6MWD compared to their pre-care baselines. Notably, the observation group showed significantly better outcomes in LVESD, LVEF, and 6MWD than the control group (P<0.05). Similarly, reductions in SAS and SDS scores were more pronounced in the observation group, indicating a significant improvement in psychological status compared to the control group (P<0.05). The observation group also scored significantly higher on the SF-36, suggesting an enhanced quality of life (P<0.05). Additionally, the incidence of MACE was significantly lower in the observation group (13.33%) compared to the control group (35.56%) (P<0.05). Conclusion: Cardiac rehabilitation management offers substantial benefits for the postoperative recovery of athletic patients with CHD, significantly enhancing cardiac function, psychological health, and quality of life, while concurrently reducing the risk of MACE. These findings underscore the critical role of comprehensive rehabilitation in the postoperative care of athletic patients with coronary heart disease, offering valuable insights for clinical practice.