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Updated: Sep 30, 2026
Myocardial Infarction and Functional Outcome Assessment in Pigs
Published on: April 25, 2014
[Is the age a limiting factor of functional capacity and cardiac performance in patients with chronic myocardial
Insights
Advanced age does not contraindicate cardiac rehabilitation for myocardial infarction patients. While cardiac performance remains similar, older patients exhibit significantly reduced exercise capacity, influenced by non-cardiac factors.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Geriatrics
- Rehabilitation Medicine
Background:
- Cardiac rehabilitation is crucial for myocardial infarction (MI) patients.
- The impact of advanced age on cardiac performance and exercise capacity in MI patients undergoing rehabilitation requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate age as a limiting factor for cardiac performance and exercise capacity in patients with MI admitted to cardiac rehabilitation programs.
Main Methods:
- 132 chronic MI patients were divided into two groups: >55 years (Group A) and <55 years (Group B).
- Clinical features, cardiac performance (echocardiography), and functional capacity (ergometric bicycle testing) were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Groups A and B showed similar risk factor prevalence and infarction location.
- Ejection fraction was slightly lower in Group A (45% vs. 50%), not statistically significant.
- Group A demonstrated significantly lower exercise capacity, indicated by higher cardiac rate and time-tension index at similar exercise levels, with lower metabolic equivalent (MET) and VO2max (p=0.001, p=0.002).
Conclusions:
- Age diminishes exercise capacity in MI patients undergoing rehabilitation, independent of significant changes in cardiac performance.
- Cardiac performance is primarily influenced by infarction size and myocardial status.
- Reduced functional capacity in older patients is also affected by non-cardiac factors.
Unlabelled:
Actually the old age is not considered a contra-indication of cardiac rehabilitation, although it influences the prognosis of patients with chronic myocardial infarction. The objective of the paper is the study of age as a limiting factor of the cardiac performance and exercise capacity at patients with myocardial infarction at the admission in rehabilitation programmes.
Methods:
Among the patients admitted in the Department of Internal Medicine of Rehabilitation Hospital of Iasi there were selected 132 with chronic myocardial infarction; they were divided into two groups: group A of 56 patients more than 55 years old and group B of 76 under 55. There were analysed the clinical features (risk factors, symptoms), the cardiac performance (by echographic study of the regional and global abnormalities of myocardial contractility) and the functional capacity (by exercise testing at the ergometric bicycle).
Results:
Both groups were similar by the point of view of the prevalence of the risk factors and location of the infarction. The ejection fraction, although smaller at the group A (45% vs 50%), did not reach the statistical significance. The exercise testing revealed a lower capacity of the group A, marked by higher levels of the cardiac rate and time-tension index at similar levels of exercise. The metabolic equivalent (MET) and VO2max were significantly lower (p = 0.001 respectively 0.002). There can be concluded that the age diminishes the exercise capacity of the patients with myocardial infarction without a marked influence of the cardiac performance. The last one depends on the infarction size and the myocardial status while the lowering of the functional capacity is influenced by noncardiac factors as well.
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