Effect of Exercise Training in Elderly Patients with Cardiovascular Disease Given Long Bed Rest in an Inpatient Rehabilitation Hospital

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to clarify whether bed rest duration in acute care hospitalization affects the efficacy of aerobic exercise in patients with cardiovascular disease at an inpatient rehabilitation hospital.

Methods: We recruited 47 patients with cardiovascular disease to evaluate their performances in a cardiopulmonary exercise test. The patients were divided into two groups depending on bed rest duration (a long bed rest group and short bed rest group). Patient exercise capacity (peak oxygen uptake and % peak oxygen uptake) was compared before and after one month aerobic exercise, as well as with patient performance in the activities of daily living [Barthel Index (BI)] at the time of admissionto the hospital.

Results: There was no difference in BI between the two groups. A significant interaction between group and time in exercise capacity was observed, and improvement in exercise capacity was significantly greater in the long bed rest group. Simple main effect tests revealed that exercise capacity was significantly increased in both short and long bed rest groups. Although exercise capacity before aerobic exercise was significantly lower in the long bed rest group, this difference disappeared after aerobic exercise.

Conclusions: Although performance in the activities of daily living did not significantly differ between the groups, the recovery of exercise capacity in the long bed rest group at the time of admission was insufficient compared to short bed rest group. Our study suggests that intensive aerobic exercise in the inpatient rehabilitation hospital for long bed rest patients have more potential to improve their exercise capacity than short bed rest patients.