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OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to evaluate the effects of home physical training (HPT) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in 1 year and the long-term period. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective observational study was conducted. Ninety-seven patients after AMI and PCI were included: Group 1 (n=51) patients exercising at home for the next year after PCI (HPT+), and Group 2 (n=46) no exercises (HPT). The evaluation was performed at baseline, in 1 year, and 8.90.9 years. The long-term response rate was 42 patients (82.4%) in the HPT+ group and 36 (78.3%) in the HPT- group. RESULTS: Patients in the HPT+ group had significantly higher physical performance at the cycle ergometer exercise test in 1 and 8.90.9 years: exercise time increased by 31.4% (p 0.001) and 40% (p 0.001), respectively, and the load increased by 15.6% (p 0.001) and 32.2% (p 0.001), whereas these indicators did not change significantly in HPT- group. Daily physical activity (PA) increased by 21.9% (p 0.01) in 1 year and 19.6% (p 0.01) in 8.90.9 years in the HPT+ group. PA did not change in the HPT- group in 1 year and decreased by 23.1% (p 0.001) in 8.90.9 years to a low level. The left ventricle ejection fraction in the HPT+ group increased by 2.4% (p 0.05) in 1 year and 6.8% (p 0.05) in 8.90.9 years with no changes in HPT- group. Quality of life increased more significantly in the HPT+ group by 50.6% (p 0.05) in 1 year and 71.6% (p 0.01) in 8.90.9 years versus 25.4% (p 0.05) and 46.9% (p 0.05), respectively, in the HPT- group. In the long-term period, the HPT+ group had fewer adverse clinical outcomes, with 22 patients compared with 28 (52.4 vs 77.8%, p 0.05). CONCLUSION: Patients with AMI and PCI who participated in a one-year HPT program had positively affected exercise tolerance, myocardial contractility, QoL, and adverse events in the long-term follow-up period.

The novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), which quickly became a pandemic in 2020, has presented new challenges for healthcare system. COVID-19, being a contagious infectious disease predominantly affects respiratory system, causes cardiovascular, neurocognitive, renal, gastrointestinal, hepatic, metabolic and mental damages, which is in fact a multisystem disease. Patients with COVID-19, primarily with moderate and severe forms, need appropriate rehabilitation. This article establishes need of development of rehabilitation programs for COVID-19 patients, identifies their problems that leads to restrictions on everyday life, self-service, mobility, communication, interpersonal relationships, and professional activities. Goals and general principles of medical rehabilitation in context of a pandemic at all three stages are presented. Features of rehabilitation approaches are highlighted and important components of individual rehabilitation program for COVID-19 patients are highlighted.