A pilot study examining the safety and effectiveness of 8-weeks of early cardiac rehabilitation on physical function and psychological well-being in patients following aortic root replacement

AIM: To determine the effects of a structured, moderate-intensity, early cardiac rehabilitation (CR) program on physical function and psychological wellbeing in patients following aortic root replacement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients were randomly assigned to either an 8-week (24 sessions) cardiac rehabilitation (CR) program, 4 to 6 weeks after aortic root replacement using the Bentall procedure, or to an age- and sex-matched control group undertaking no structured exercise. Physical function (via exercise treadmill test (ETT)) and psychological wellbeing (assessed via DASS-21 and SF36) were assessed before and following 8-weeks of CR. RESULTS: 30 patients (15 in the control (mean age: 37 +/- 10 years) and 15 in the intervention group (mean age: 38 +/- 11 years)) completed the 8-week CR programme and no adverse events were reported over the intervention period. In the CR group, all sub-components of the SF-36 and DASS-21 increased (all P < 0.05), showing an overall improvement in psychological wellbeing following the intervention. Distance walked on the ETT (improved significantly following 8-weeks of CR (490 +/- 167m v 659 +/- 141 m; Lambda improvement = 169 m; P < 0.05). There were no changes in physical function and psychological wellbeing in the controls (P > 0.05). A significant group-by-time interaction effect was evident for physical function and all sub-components of the SF-36 and DASS-21 (all P < 0.05) highlighting significant improvements in outcomes in the CR group compared to controls. CONCLUSIONS: This small sample, aerobic-based, moderate-intensity CR is safe and effective, and can be tolerated only 4-6 weeks after complex aortic root replacement surgery.