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Electrocardiographic (ECG) exercise stress test has been a major diagnostic test in cardiology for several decades. Ongoing technological advances that have led to a wide use of imaging techniques and development of new guidelines have called for a revised and updated approach to the technique and interpretation of the ECG exercise testing. The present document outlines an expert opinion of the Polish Cardiac Society Working Group on Cardiac Rehabilitation and Exercise Physiology regarding the performance and interpretation of ECG exercise testing in adults. We discussed technical requirements and necessary equipment for the exercise testing laboratory as well as healthcare personnel competencies necessary to supervise ECG exercise testing and fully interpret test findings. Broad indications for ECG exercise testing include diagnostic assessment of coronary artery disease (CAD), including pre-test probability of CAD, evaluation of functional disease severity and risk strati- fication in patients with established CAD, assessment of response to treatment, evaluation of exercise-related symptoms and exercise capacity, patient evaluation before exercise training/cardiac rehabilitation, and risk stratification prior to non-cardiac surgery. ECG exercise testing is safe if indications and contraindications are observed, testing is appropriately monitored, and indications for test termination are clearly established. The exercise protocol should be adjusted to the expected exercise capacity of a patient so as to limit the duration of exercise to 8-12 min. Clinical, haemodynamic, and ECG response to exercise is evaluated during the test. The test report should include information about the exercise protocol used, reason for test termination, perceived exertion, presence/severity of anginal symptoms, peak exercise capacity or tolerated workload in relation to the predicted exercise capacity, heart rate response, and the presence or absence of ST-T changes. The test report should conclude with a summary including clinical and ECG assessment.

Background: The effectiveness of stationary and ambulatory cardiac rehabilitation of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and diabetes has been proven by some authors, but data concerning the effects of hybrid forms of cardiac rehabilitation (HCR) in this population are lacking. A home-based telerehabilitation is a promising form of secondary prevention of cardiovascular diseases in this group of patients., Aim: The objective of the study was to compare the effects of HCR in CAD patients with and without diabetes mellitus (DM). The secondary endpoint was the assessment of CAD risk factors like low exercise capacity and obesity, in both groups of patients., Methods: This was a retrospective study, which comprised 125 patients with CAD aged 57.31 ± 5.61 years referred for HCR. They were assigned to Group D (with diabetes; n = 37) or Group C (without diabetes; n = 88). HCR was carried out as a comprehensive procedure that included all core components of cardiac rehabilitation according to guidelines. Before and after HCR all patients underwent a symptom-limited exercise test performed according to the Bruce protocol on a treadmill., Results: Before HCR the maximal workload was higher in Group C than in Group D (8.13 ± 2.82 METs vs. 6.77 ± 1.88 METs; p = 0.023), but after HCR the difference was not significant. In both groups an increase in the maximal workload after HCR was observed (Group D: before HCR 6.81 ± 1.91 METs, after HCR 8.30 ± 2.04 METs; p < 0.001; Group C: before HCR 8.31 ± 2.71 METs, after HCR 9.13 ± 2.87 METs; p = 0.001). Resting heart rate, double product, and heart rate recovery 1 (HRR1) declined in both groups. No significant differences in changes in exercise test parameters between both groups' parameters were found., Conclusions: HCR was effective in patients with DM. The adherence was high. Patients with DM had higher rates of obesity and significantly lower exercise tolerance than patients without DM. Patients from both groups gained similar benefit from HCR in terms of physical capacity, resting heart rate, and heart rate recovery.

Background: Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) has been shown to reduce the cardiovascular mortality of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and help people to return to professional work. Unfortunately, limited accessibility and low participation levels present persistent challenges in almost all countries where CR is available. Applying telerehabilitation provides an opportunity to improve the implementation of and adherence to CR, and it seems that the hybrid form of training may be the optimal approach due to its cost-effectiveness and feasibility for patients referred by a social insurance institution., Aim: To present the clinical characteristics and evaluate the effects of hybrid: outpatient followed by home-based cardiac telerehabilitation in patients with CAD in terms of exercise tolerance, safety, and adherence to the programme., Methods: A total of 125 patients (112 men, 13 women) with CAD, aged 58.3 ± 4.5 years, underwent a five-week training programme (TP) consisting of 19-22 exercise training sessions. The first stage of TP was performed in the ambulatory form of CR in hospital; then, patients continued to be telemonitored TP at home (hybrid model of cardiac rehabilitation - HCR). Before and after completing CR, all patients underwent a symptom-limited treadmill exercise stress test. Adherence was reported by the number of dropouts from the TP., Results: The number of days of absence in the HCR programme was 1.50 ± 4.07 days. There were significant improvements (p < 0.05) in some measured variables after HCR in the exercise test: max. workload: 7.86 ± 2.59 METs vs. 8.88 ± 2.67 METs; heart rate (HR) at rest: 77.59 ± 12.53 bpm vs. 73.01 ± 11.57 bpm; systolic blood pressure at rest: 136.69 ± 17.19 mm Hg vs. 130.92 ± 18.95 mm Hg; double product at rest: 10623.33 ± 2262.97 vs. 9567.50 ± 2116.81; HRR1: 97.46 ± 18.27 bpm vs. 91.07 ± 19.19 bpm; and, NYHA class: 1.18 ± 0.48 vs. 1.12 ± 0.35., Conclusions: In patients with documented CAD, HCR is feasible and safe, and adherence is good. Most patients were on social rehabilitation benefit, had a smoking history, and suffered from hypertension, obesity, or were overweight. A hybrid model of CR improved exercise tolerance.