Objective
To examine whether patients who participated in a cardiac rehabilitation (CR) program after hospitalization for acute coronary syndrome maintained cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) in the community.
Methods
We conducted a retrospective study including 78 patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention or coronary artery bypass graft surgery at our hospital’s cardiovascular center and participated in a CR program and a 5-year follow-up evaluation. Patients were divided into a center-based CR (CBCR) group, participating in an electrocardiography-monitored exercise training in a hospital setting, and a home-based CR (HBCR) group, receiving aerobic exercise training and performed self-exercise at home.
Results
No significant differences were found between groups (p>0.05), except the proportion of non-smokers (CBCR 59.5% vs. HBCR 31.7%; p=0.01). In both groups, the maximal oxygen consumption (VO_2max) increased significantly during the first 12 weeks of follow-up and remained at a steady state for the first year, but it decreased after the 1-year follow-up. Particularly, VO_2max at 5 years decreased below the baseline value in the HBCR group. In the low CRF group, the CRF level significantly improved at 12 weeks, peaked at 1 year, and was still significantly different from the baseline value after 5 years. The high CRF group did not show any significant increase over time relative to the baseline value, but most patients in the high CRF group maintained relatively appropriate CRF levels after 5 years.
Conclusion
Continuous support should be provided to patients to maintain optimal CRF levels after completing a CR program.

Citations

• Change in exercise capacity, physical activity and motivation for physical activity at 12 months after a cardiac rehabilitation program in coronary heart disease patients: a prospective, monocentric and observational study
  Paul Da Ros Vettoretto, Anne-Armelle Bouffart, Youna Gourronc, Anne-Charlotte Baron, Marie Gaume, Florian Congnard, Bénédicte Noury-Desvaux, Pierre-Yves de Müllenheim
  PeerJ.2025; 13: e18885.     CrossRef
• The effectiveness of mindful walking based on the timing it right framework in patients with atrial fibrillation and chronic heart failure
  Qin Lu, Jingjing Lu, Yeping Zheng, Juanqin Shen, Xia Zhao, Jianjiang Xu, Xiaoping Gu, Zhenliang Chu
  Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• 12-Month Outcomes for Home-Based Cardiac Rehabilitation: EXPERIENCE FROM THE VETERAN AFFAIRS
  Kariann R. Drwal, Bonnie J. Wakefield, Adrienne Wagenblast, Delanie Hurst, Bjarni Haraldsson, Ramzi N. El Accaoui
  Journal of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation and Prevention.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• The Accessibility and Effect of Cardiac Rehabilitation in COVID-19 Pandemic Era
  Chul Kim, Jun Hyeong Song, Seung Hyoun Kim
  Annals of Rehabilitation Medicine.2024; 48(4): 249.     CrossRef
• The Effect of Home-Based Cardiac Rehabilitation on Cardiovascular Risk Factors Management
  Chul Kim, Seok Hyeon Lee
  Annals of Rehabilitation Medicine.2023; 47(4): 272.     CrossRef
• Fact Sheet on Cardiac Rehabilitation for Cardiovascular Disease in South Korea
  Ki-Hong Kim, Jae-Young Han
  Annals of Rehabilitation Medicine.2023; 47(5): 318.     CrossRef