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Four weeks of residential rehabilitation improves exercise capacity and coronary risk in women with CVD
Author(s) -
Crouse Stephen F.,
Berent Robert,
vonDuvillard Serge P.,
Schmid Peter,
Green John S.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.21.6.a1068
Subject(s) - medicine , physical therapy , blood pressure , exercise prescription , body mass index , physical exercise , rehabilitation
To characterize the benefits of exercise and lifestyle intervention on exercise capacity and CVD risk, 1321 women (age = 66 ± 11 yr, wt = 70 ± 13 kg, ht = 1.6 ± 0.07 m) with documented or high risk for CVD entered a four‐week residential exercise and lifestyle intervention program at a rehabilitation facility in central Austria. Standard measurements at entry and after completion of the program included; fasting cholesterol (C), triglycerides (TG), HDL‐C, LDL‐C, C/HDL‐C ratio, non‐HDL‐C, glucose (GLU), physical working capacity (PWC) and VO 2peak test on a cycle ergometer, height, weight, body‐mass index (BMI), systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure. Therapy included supervised daily exercise (bike/walk, 60% intensity, at least 20 min duration), nutrition/diet prescription depending on individual needs, and pharmacologic intervention where indicated. Program participation significantly (ANOVA, p <0.0003) reduced C (−9%), TG (−7%), LDL‐C (−10%), C/HDL‐C (−9%), non‐HDL‐C (−11%) and GLU (−17%). PWC and VO 2peak rose significantly 11% and 7%, respectively. These data show that beneficial changes in CVD risk factors and physical fitness can be produced in women with CVD by as little as four weeks of exercise and lifestyle intervention.