Lavie, Carl J.; Milani, Richard V.; Arena, Ross A.
Abstract
Considerable evidence indicates that physical activity, exercise training, and cardio-respiratory fitness provide protection in primary and secondary coronary heart disease (CHD) prevention, including in the elderly population. However, cardiac rehabilitation and exercise training (CRET) programs have been greatly under-utilized in patients with CHD, and this has been especially noted in populations of elderly patients, where CRET services have been covered by Medicare. We reviewed the benefits of formal CRET programs on CHD risk factors, including exercise capacity, indices of obesity, plasma lipids, inflammation, psychosocial stress, as well as overall morbidity and mortality, including recent studies in the elderly. These data support the routine referral of elderly CHD patients to formal CRET programs, and greater efforts are needed to vigorously encourage patients to attend these highly beneficial programs.
