Clinical Outcomes of Cardiac Rehabilitation in Women with Coronary Artery Disease-Differences in Comparison with Men

This study evaluated the clinical outcomes of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) in women with coronary artery disease (CAD) in comparison to men. Methods: Patients after acute coronary syndrome or after revascularization procedures (106 women, 180 men) were consecutively admitted to a comprehensive outpatient CR program, comprising of 45-min ergometer interval training three times a week for eight weeks. The training intensity was determined on the basis of training heart rate, calculated following an exercise test. Patients were divided into subgroups according to age (<= 55, >55 years), BMI (<25, >= 25 kg/m(2)), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF; <= 40%, 41-49%, >= 50%), and number of affected coronary vessels. Results: After eight weeks, exercise capacity increased significantly by 0.6 +/- 0.77 MET (women) and by 1.0 +/- 0.74 MET (men). The greatest benefit was observed in men, women under 55 years, women with LVEF 41-49%, and women with single-vessel CAD. An outpatient CR program appears less beneficial for women, especially those over 55 years, with two or three coronary vessels affected with atherosclerosis or with LVEF > 50%. In women with CAD, eight weeks of 45-min interval training, with sessions three times a week, is insufficient to improve exercise capacity to an extent that is considered a predictor of mortality risk reduction.