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Background: Exercise tolerance and cardiac output have a major impact on the quality of life (QOL) of patients experiencing heart failure (HF). Home-based cardiac rehabilitation can significantly improve not only exercise tolerance but also peak oxygen uptake ((Equation is included in full-text article.)peak), and the QOL in patients with HF. The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the beneficial effects of home-based cardiac rehabilitation on the quality of medical care in patients with chronic HF., Methods: This study was a randomized prospective trial. HF patients with a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of less than 50% were included in this study. We randomly assigned patients to the control group (n = 18) and the interventional group (n = 19). Within the interventional group, we arranged individualized rehabilitation programs, including home-based cardiac rehabilitation, diet education, and management of daily activity over a 3-month period. Information such as general data, laboratory data, Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test (CPET) results, Six-minute Walk Test (6MWT) results, and the scores for the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ) before and after the intervention, was collected from all patients in this study., Results: Patients enrolled in the home-based cardiac rehabilitation programs displayed statistically significant improvement in (Equation is included in full-text article.)peak (18.2 ± 4.1 vs 20.9 ± 6.6 mL/kg/min, P = .02), maximal 6-Minute Walking Distance (6MWD) (421 ± 90 vs 462 ± 74 m, P = .03), anaerobic threshold (12.4 ± 2.5 vs 13.4 ± 2.6 mL/kg/min, P = .005), and QOL. In summary, patients receiving home-based cardiac rehabilitation experienced a 14.2% increase in (Equation is included in full-text article.)peak, a 37% increase in QOL score, and an improvement of 41 m on the 6MWD test. The 90-day readmission rate for patients reduced to 5% from 14% after receiving cardiac rehabilitation., Conclusion: Home-based cardiac rehabilitation offered the most improved results in functional capacity, QOL, and a reduced the rate of readmission within 90 days.

Background The influence of β-blockers on heart rate recovery (HRR) and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) during Phase I cardiac rehabilitation (CR) for patients with a recent episode of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is not clear. Methods From October 2009 to July 2011, 105 patients with a recent episode of AMI who received a successful percutaneous coronary intervention were recruited into this study. Before entering Phase II CR, each patient underwent a cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET), where RPE was assessed every minute and related parameters were recorded. Results The participants entering CR had relatively low mean peak oxygen consumption (VO 2max ). However, the peak heart rate and VO 2max were lower in those taking β-blockers. The RPE value at the ventilatory threshold (VT) was significantly higher (12.7 ± 1.7) in participants who were taking β-blockers relative to those who were not (11.5 ± 1.4). The HRR value was lower (12.5 ± 8.8) in participants who were taking β-blockers relative to those who were not (17.0 ± 9.1). Conclusion These findings suggest that use of β-blockers increased the RPE value at the VT. In addition, HRR was attenuated by β-blockers. In patients who do not undergo CPET, the use of β-blockers should be taken into consideration when using RPE for the initial exercise prescription to determine training intensity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]