Moderated Poster Session III: Cardiac rehabilitation

Abstract

M270 Can a short cardiac rehabilitation programme influence novel markers of cardiovascular risk evaluated by computed tomography imaging? Preliminary results of a randomised clinical study R P Lima, G Silva, O Sousa, N Dias Ferreira, N Bettencourt, F Miranda, M Teixeira, V Gama Ribeiro Gaia, Portugal Topic: Cardiovascular rehabilitation Purpose: To evaluate the impact of a short course (8 weeks), moderate intensity cardiac rehabilitation programme (CRP) on markers of systemic inflammation and cardiovascular risk (total adipose tissue (TAP), subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), visceral adipose tissue (VAT) at abdominal level) by computed tomography imaging (CT-scan) in postinfarction patients. Methods: Fifty-four postinfarction patients were randomised into two groups: group R composed of 31 patients (27 males; mean age 53.9 years 11.4; mean LV ejection fraction (EF) 54.2% 8.9%) entered a 8 weeks CRP, whereas group NR, composed of 23 patients (18 males; mean age 57.7 years; mean EF 49.8% 10.8%) did not enter any CRP being only followed in an outpatient basis. CT-scan was performed before and after the programme and the evolution of the different parameters of CT-scan in the two groups was analysed. Results: After the CRP, group R patients did not show any significant improvement in total adipose tissue when compared with group NR patients (4 TAT -12.8 43.7 vs -11.34 47.57 respectively; p = 0.9). Equally, there were no significant differences between the groups on subcutaneous adipose tissue (4 SAT -3.85 in group R vs -10.5 in group NR; p = 0.79). Visceral adipose tissue has decreased in group R (-8.94) while has increased in group NR (+2.31), but this difference was not statistically significant (p=0.64). Conclusions: In our population an 8 week CRP did not significantly affect the adipose tissue. However, at 3-month, we can observe a slight trend toward reduction in visceral adipose tissue. The limited duration of the programme and the "low" exercise loads applied may have accounted for these results. More intense and prolonged comprehensive CR programmes are probably needed to obtain an impact, mainly in the visceral adipose tissue.