Gender differences in risk factors and outcomes after cardiac rehabilitation

Objective - We compared the baseline characteristics, cardiovascular risk factors and outcomes between men and women in an Iranian cardiac rehabilitation programme after adjusting for age, body mass index and waist-to-hip ratio. Methods - In a self-controlled descriptive study performed between 1996 and 2006, we evaluated 547 patients with documented coronary heart disease before and after a 24-session cardiac rehabilitation programme. Results - Women were older, more likely to be obese, anxious, depressed, and had more traditional coronary heart disease risk factors than men. At baseline, exercise capacity was lower (P < 0.001), but total cholesterol (P < 0.001), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P = 0.007), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P = 0.001), fasting blood sugar (P = 0.002), left ventricular ejection fraction (P < 0.001), systolic blood pressure (P < 0.001), diastolic blood pressure (P < 0.001), and heart rate (P = 0.016) were higher in women. Although there was significant improvement in most of the variables and risk factors after cardiac rehabilitation, changes were not statistically significant between men and women except for significantly more improvement in exercise capacity (P < 0.00 1) and less reduction in body mass index (P = 0.04) in men. Conclusion - Following a short-term cardiac rehabilitation programme, modification in cardiac risk factors and quality of life occurs. Both genders benefit alike in most aspects from this programme.