Determinants of Functional Improvement After Cardiac Rehabilitation in Acute Coronary Syndrome

Introduction Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is an effective tool for secondary prevention after acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Aim Aim of our study was to find the significant determinants of exercise capacity (evaluated with the six-minute walking test—6-MWT) and functional improvement in patients undergoing CR after an ACS. Methods The study group included 298 patients (mean age 61.6 ± 10.2 years; males 80.2%) who, after ACS, were enrolled in CR program at Niguarda Hospital in Milan from 2015 to 2018. For all patients, we collected anamnestic, clinical and instrumental cardiological data. All patients performed a 6-MWT at the beginning (6-MWT-1) and at the end (6-MWT-2) of CR program. Δ meters were used to represent functional improvement. Results Multiple linear regression models were carried out for 6-MWT-1, 6-MWT-2, Δ meters and % Δ meters. Standardized regression coefficients showed that age (β = − 0.237; p < 0.001), BMI (β = − 0.116; p = 0.006) and heart rate (β = − 0.082; p = 0.040) were determinants of exercise capacity (6MWT-1 and 2), whereas age (β = −.231; p = 0.004), sex (β = − 0.187; p = 0.008) and BMI (β = − 0.164; p = 0.022) were determinants of functional improvement (Δ meters). Conclusions Our data showed that functional improvement after CR in ACS patients is mainly related to non-cardiological variables. Instead it is related to intrinsic factors, both modifiable (BMI) and non-modifiable (age, sex). Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40292-021-00473-7.