The 6-min walk test and quality of life in heart patients participated cardiac rehabilitation clinic, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital
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Abstract
Background : At present, the numbers of patients with heart disease are increasing. Many of them have problems due to functional capacity limitation and poor quality of life. Cardiac rehabilitation exercise program is necessary to improve the functional exercise capacity and a quality of life.
Objectives : To study the six minute walk test and quality of life the patients who have completed their participation at the outpatient cardiac rehabilitation program, Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Clinic, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital.
Methods : We reviewed the clinical outcome measurement data of the 6-min walk test (6MWD) and the quality of life score ( SF-36 Thai version) of the patients who have completed 8 weeks consecutively participation at the out-patient cardiac rehabilitation moderate intensity exercise program from January 1st 2012 to December 31st 2013.
Results : The primary heart patients who have enrolled at the out-patient cardiac rehabilitation exercise program were 15 males (68.2%) and 7 females (31.8%); their averaged age 65.36 11.10 years, coronary artery disease
(CAD) 14 (63.6%), coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) 6 (27.3%) and the mean left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) 38.4 17.96%. The 6MWD result compared between before and after the intervention at the cardiac
rehabilitation program increased from 273.9 137.42 m. to 346 135.65 m. the mean average increased 72.38 m. (P <0.001) as well as the quality of life score (SF-36) increased from 37.72 to 60.51 (P <0.05) respectively.
Conclusions : The cardiac rehabilitation moderate intensity exercise program can improve the functional exercise capacity and the quality of life; the patients should have more encouragement to attend the outpatient cardiac
rehabilitation after discharge. In case, they cannot attend the program at the hospital, they should have recommendation practice cardiac rehabilitation exercise program at home.