Comparison of cardiac rehabilitation (exercise + education), exercise only, and usual care for patients with coronary artery disease: A non-randomized retrospective analysis.

Cardiac rehabilitation program is well-established but the Rehabilitation After Myocardial Infarction Trial (RAMIT) is reported that it does not affect mortality and morbidity of patients after myocardial infarction during follow-up period. The objectives of the study were to compare functional walking capacity, risk factor control, and morbidities in follow-up for cardiac rehabilitation (exercise + education), exercise only, and usual care among patients with coronary artery disease. A total of 492 male and female patients (age range: 45-73 years) with coronary artery disease after myocardial infarction or underwent percutaneous coronary intervention or coronary artery bypass grafting surgeries referred to cardiac rehabilitation were included in the study. Patients were participating in a cardiac rehabilitation program (exercise + education, CRP cohort, n = 125), exercise only (USC cohort, n = 182), or usual care (NCR cohort, n = 185). Data regarding incremental shuttle walk test, lipid profile, the Patient Health Questionnaire 9, and morbidities in follow-up of patients were retrospectively collected and analyzed. After completion of 1 year, cardiac rehabilitation program (p < 0.0001, q = 20.939) and exercise (p < 0.0001, q = 6.059) were successfully increased incremental shuttle walk test. After completion of 1 year, cardiac rehabilitation program reduced low-density lipoprotein (p = 0.007, q = 3.349) and depressive symptoms (p < 0.0001, q = 5.649). Morbidities were reported fewer in the patients of CRP cohort than those of USC (p = 0.003, q = 3.427) and NCR (p = 0.003, q = 4.822) cohorts after completion of 1 year of program. Cardiac rehabilitation program (exercise +education) improved functional walking capacity, controlled risk factors, and reduced morbidities of patients with coronary artery disease than exercise only and usual care (Level of evidence: III).