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Patient education is an integral part of recovery from a critical cardiac life event and a core component of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programmes. This study addressed the feasibility of a virtual educational programme for behaviour change in CR patients from a low-resource setting in Brazil. Cardiac patients from a CR programme closed due to the pandemic received a 12-week virtual educational intervention (WhatsApp messages and bi-weekly calls from healthcare providers). Acceptability, demand, implementation, practicality, and limited efficacy were tested. Overall, 34 patients and 8 healthcare providers agreed to participate. The intervention was considered practical and acceptable by the participants, who reported a satisfaction median of 9.0 (7.4–10.0)/10 (patients) and 9.8 (9.6–10.0)/10 (providers). The main difficulties in carrying out the intervention activities were related to technology, motivation to self-learning, and a lack of in-person orientation. All the patients reported that the information included in the intervention was aligned with their information needs. The intervention was associated with changes in exercise self-efficacy, sleep quality, depressive symptoms, and performance of high-intensity physical activity. In conclusion, the intervention was considered feasible to educate cardiac patients from a low-resource setting. It should be replicated and expanded to support patients that face barriers to onsite CR participation. Challenges related to technology and self-learning should be addressed.

The purpose of this study was to verify the accuracy of the agreement between heart rate at the first ventilatory threshold (HRVT1) and heart rate at the end of the 6-min walk test (HR6MWT) in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients on β-blockers treatment. This was a cross-sectional study with stable CAD patients, which performed a cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) on a treadmill and a 6-min walk test (6MWT) on nonconsecutive days. The accuracy of agreement between HRVT1 and HR6MWT was evaluated by Bland–Altman analysis and Lin’s concordance correlation coefficient (rc), mean absolute percentage error (MAPE), and standard error of estimate (SEE). Seventeen stable CAD patients on β-blockers treatment (male, 64.7%; age, 61± 10 years) were included in data analysis. The Bland–Altman analysis revealed a negative bias of -0.41 ± 6.4 bpm (95% limits of agreements, -13 to 12.2 bpm) between HRVT1 and HR6MWT. There was acceptable agreement between HRVT1 and HR6MWT (rc = 0.84; 95% confidence interval, 0.63 to 0.93; study power analysis= 0.79). The MAPE of the HR6MWT was 5.1% and SEE was 6.6 bpm. The ratio HRVT1/HRpeak and HR6MWT/HRpeak from CPET were not significantly different (81%± 5% vs. 81%± 6%, P= 0.85); respectively. There was a high correlation between HRVT1 and HR6MWT (r= 0.85, P< 0.0001). Finally, the results of the present study demonstrate that there was an acceptable agreement between HRVT1 and HR6MWT in CAD patients on β-blockers treatment and suggest that HR6MWT may be useful to prescribe and control aerobic exercise intensity in cardiac rehabilitation programs.

Background: Exercise oscillatory ventilation (EOV) shows a four-fold greater risk of adverse events. This study aims to analyze the sensitivity and specificity of three EOV diagnostic definitions to predict adverse outcomes at a 2-year follow-up and to compare its EOV prevalence and relations with the patient's profile.Methods: Cardiopulmonary exercise tests from 233 heart failure patients were analyzed. Two blinded reviewers used a semiautomated software to identify EOV cases pattern according to the definitions of Ben-Dov, Corr`a, and Leite. Data were grouped in EOV-positive or EOV-negative according to each definition. Baseline characteristics, EOV prevalence, relative risk, sensitivity, and specificity to predict 2-years of major adverse cardiovascular outcomes were analyzed.Results: The Corra definition led to the best prediction of 2-year major cardiovascular adverse outcomes (HR 2.46 [1.16 to 5.25]; p = 0.019, AUC = 0.618; p = 0.007). EOV prevalence was 17.2%, 17.2%, and 9.4% applying BenDov, Corr`a, and Leite definition, respectively. The main clinical differences between EOV-positive and EOVnegative patients were: MECKI score and VE/VCO2 slope (all definitions), and BNP levels (Ben-Dov and Leite). BNP levels were correlated with amplitude (rho = 0.255; p = 0.033) and cycle length (rho = 0.388; p = 0.002).Conclusion: Corra definition was the only one that exhibited the capacity to predict major adverse cardiovascular outcomes at a 2-year follow-up. Regardless of its definition, EOV was more often prevalent in patients with a greater MECKI score and VE/VCO2 slope values.

Background Increased level of physical activity (PA) and health education are known as non-pharmacological treatments of hypertension (HP). There is a lack of studies investigating the influence of HP knowledge on the level of PA among hypertensive patients. Objective To examine the influence of patient’s knowledge about HP on PA level and the relationship between these variables. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in in a primary care center located in a city in the southern Brazil. A total of 199 hypertensive patients (median 61.2 [13] years; body mass index (BMI) 21.9 (7.5) kg/m2; 72.4% women) were included. The level of PA was assessed by measuring the number of steps taken daily. The knowledge about HP was assessed by a standardized questionnaire (HIPER-Q). The Kruskall-Wallis test was used to compare age, BMI and PA level between HP knowledge categories, and the Spearman test was used to assess correlations (p

Dear Editor, The Brazilian Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Guideline – 2020 is of great interest and relevance to the professionals involved in the care of cardiovascular disease (CVD) patients. With internationally agreed core components, cardiovascular rehabilitation (CR) is a well-established model of secondary prevention that mitigates the CVD burden. Despite its benefits, the CR is available in only 40% of low-middle income countries, with insufficient capacity even where it does exist. Therefore, guidelines for healthcare providers in countries where CR is not [...]

CONTEXTUALIZAÇÃO: A medida de pressão expiratória máxima (PEmáx) possui algumas contraindicações, pois acredita-se que as respostas obtidas nessa medida são similares às respostas encontradas na manobra de Valsalva (MV). OBJETIVOS: O objetivo principal é avaliar a resposta da frequência cardíaca (FC) durante a medida da PEmáx e da MV em jovens saudáveis, em diferentes posturas, para identificar se e em qual condição a PEmáx reproduz as respostas obtidas na MV e, adicionalmente, estimar o trabalho realizado nas manobras. MÉTODO: Doze jovens saudáveis foram avaliados, orientados e familiarizados com as manobras. A MV foi composta por um esforço expiratório (40 mmHg) durante 15 segundos contra um manômetro. A PEmáx foi executada segundo a American Thoracic Society. Ambas as medidas foram realizadas nas posturas supino e sentado. Para a análise da variação da frequência cardíaca (∆FC), índice de Valsalva (IV), índice da PEmáx (IPEmáx) e o trabalho estimado das manobras (Wtotal, Wisotime, Wtotal/∆FCtotal e Wisotime/∆FCisotime ), utilizou-se ANOVA two-way com post-hoc de Holm-Sidak (pBACKGROUND: The measure of the maximal expiratory pressure (MEP) has some contraindications, as it is believed that the responses obtained in this measure are similar to the Valsalva maneuver (VM). OBJECTIVE: The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the heart rate responses (HR) during the MEP and the VM measures in healthy young men into different postures aiming to identify whether and in which situation the MEP reproduces the responses obtained in the VM. Additionally we aim to estimate the workload realized during the maneuvers. METHOD: Twelve healthy young men were evaluated, instructed and familiarized with the maneuvers. The VM was characterized by an expiratory effort (40 mmHg) against a manometer for 15 seconds. The MEP measure has been performed according to the American Thoracic Society. Both measures were performed at sitting and supine positions. ANOVA two-way with Holm-Sidak post-hoc test (p

A pressão expiratória positiva nas vias aéreas (EPAP) é um recurso terapêutico que compreende uma inspiração seguida de expiração contra resistência. Sua aplicação promove ajustes no sistema cardiovascular, de maneira similar ao observado durante a manobra de Valsalva (MV). O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar a resposta da frequência cardíaca (FC) à MV e às diferentes formas de aplicação de EPAP a fim de identificar se e em qual condição esta técnica reproduz a resposta da FC observada na MV, em homens jovens aparentemente saudáveis. Foram estudados 10 sujeitos (24±3 anos; 25±3 kg/m²) que realizaram os procedimentos de MV e EPAP, aleatoriamente em dias diferentes. Na MV o esforço expiratório foi sustentado por 15 s (pressão oral de 40 mmHg [53,4 cmH2O]). Empregou-se duas técnicas de EPAP (isolada e terapêutica) contra 3 níveis de pressão (10, 15 e 20 cmH2O), aplicados aleatoriamente. As manobras foram repetidas três vezes com intervalo de cinco minutos. Considerou-se o maior valor de variação da FC (DFC) de cada manobra para análise. Empregou-se o teste Shapiro-Wilk para verificar a distribuição dos dados e ANOVA para medidas repetidas, com post-hoc de Fisher, considerando-se αThe expiratory positive airway pressure (EPAP) is a therapeutic resource that comprises an inspiration followed by expiration against resistance. During its application there were adjustments in the cardiovascular system, similar to those observed during the Valsalva maneuver (VM). The aim of this study was to analyze the heart rate (HR) response to VM and to different ways of EPAP application to identify if and in which condition this technique reproduces the HR response observed in the VM, in apparently healthy young men. Ten subjects (24±3 years, 25±3 kg/m²) performed randomly the VM and EPAP procedures on different days. The expiratory effort in VM was sustained for 15 s (oral pressure of 40 mmHg [53.4cm H2O]). Two EPAP techniques were employed (alone and therapeutic) against three pressure levels (10, 15 and 20 cmH2O), randomly applied. The maneuvers were repeated three times with five minutes interval. It was considered the greatest value of HR variation (DHR) for each maneuver analysis. Were used the Shapiro-Wilk test to analyze the data distribution and the ANOVA for repeated measures, with Fisher's post-hoc, considering α

O objetivo foi avaliar se diferenças na força muscular respiratória pré-operatória: a) se relacionam com outros fatores de risco pré-operatórios; e b) influenciam o risco de surgimento de complicações pulmonares pós-operatórias (CPP), os tempos de permanência em ventilação mecânica (VM) e em unidade de terapia intensiva (UTI) e hospitalar após cirurgia de revascularização do miocárdio. O estudo foi observacional, prospectivo, tipo coorte. Vinte e quatro indivíduos concluíram o estudo e, após análise dos valores da manovacuometria pré-operatória, foram alocados em: G1, com pressão inspiratória máxima (PImáx) >70% do previsto (n=13, 54%); e G2, PImáx 0,05) quanto à maioria das variáveis obtidas no pré-operatório (exceto PImáx e PEmáx) e aos dados cirúrgicos. Quase metade dos pacientes do G2, com PImáx inferior, também apresentaram pressão expiratória máxima (PEmáx) inferior à prevista. Os tempos de VM, de internação em UTI e hospitalar pós-operatória, e a presença de CPP não diferiram estatisticamente entre os grupos. Quando comparados aos do G1, os indivíduos do grupo que apresentava fraqueza muscular respiratória (G2) antes da cirurgia revelaram maior risco relativo para o desenvolvimento de complicações pulmonares pós-operatórias.The aim of this study was to assess whether preoperative respiratory muscle strength: a) is related to other preoperative risk factors and b) represents a higher risk to postoperative pulmonary complications (PPC), higher time under mechanical ventilation (MV), intensive care unit (ICU) and hospitalization, after myocardial revascularization surgery. Twenty-four patients were studied and, after the analysis of preoperative measures taken, divided into two groups: G1, with maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP) over 70% predicted value (n=13, 54%); and G2, with MIP below 70% predicted value (n=11, 46%). At the statistical analysis, significance level was set at 5% (p0.05). Almost half of G2 patients, who had lower MIP, also presented maximum expiratory pressure (MEP) below predicted value. As for time under MV, postoperative ICU and in-hospital times, besides number of PPC, no statistical differences were found between the groups. When compared to G1, G2 patients showed higher relative risk to developing postoperative pulmonary complications.

Background: Reduced respiratory muscle endurance (RME) contributes to increased dyspnea upon exertion in patients with cardiovascular disease. Objective: The objective was to characterize ventilatory and metabolic responses during RME tests in post-myocardial infarction patients without respiratory muscle weakness. Method: Twenty-nine subjects were allocated into three groups: recent myocardial infarction group (RG, n=9), less-recent myocardial infarction group (LRG, n=10), and control group (CG, n=10). They underwent two RME tests (incremental and constant pressure) with ventilatory and metabolic analyses. One-way ANOVA and repeated measures one-way ANOVA, both with Tukey post-hoc, were used between groups and within subjects, respectively. Results: Patients from the RG and LRG presented lower metabolic equivalent and ventilatory efficiency than the CG on the second (50± 06, 50± 5 vs. 42± 4) and third part (50± 11, 51± 10 vs. 43± 3) of the constant pressure RME test and lower metabolic equivalent during the incremental pressure RME test. Additionally, at the peak of the incremental RME test, RG patients had lower oxygen uptake than the CG. Conclusions : Post-myocardial infarction patients present lower ventilatory efficiency during respiratory muscle endurance tests, which appears to explain their inferior performance in these tests even in the presence of lower pressure overload and lower metabolic equivalent.