[Is physical training useful for elderly patients with ischemic heart disease?]

The aim of the paper is the study of the effects of a supervised physical training at old patients with ischaemic heart disease.

74 patients with ischaemic left ventricular dysfunction have been followed during a supervised physical training consisting of a daily programme of exercise over a period of 21 +/- 10 days. They were parted in Group A (n = 26) over 60 years old and Group B (n = 48) under this age. The heart rate (HR), systolic and diastolic heart pressure (SHP respectively DHP), the time-tension index (TTI) were registered during the rest, the peak intensity of exercise and the recovery. These parameters were compared in evolution at each group and also between the groups.

At Group A, at the end of the period, SHP at the peak intensity decreased (from 146 +/- 19 to 137 +/- 14 mmHg, p = 0.01), also SHP in the recovery period (from 119 +/- 10 to 116 +/- 10 mmHg, p = 0.01) and HR during the recovery time (from 77 +/- 8/min to 73 +/- 6/min, p = 0.03). The total length of the session time increased (from 12 +/- 4 min to 21 +/- 6 min, p = 0.01) and also the duration of the peak exercise time (from 3.6 +/- 1.0 min to 7.7 +/- 2.9 min, p = 0.03), in the condition of maintaining a HR at the peak exercise of about 75-76% of the maximum HR obtained at a previous exercise testing. The improvement of the training parameters was similar with Group B, except the duration of the session, longer at the last group (21 +/- 6 min at Group A vs. 25 +/- 7 min at Group B, p = 0.02) and the duration of the peak intensity (7.7 +/- 1.0 min at Group A vs. 9.1 +/- 2.9 min at Group B, p = 0.02).

Old patients with ischaemic left ventricular dysfunction improve their exercise capacity as well as the younger ones; the benefits of a supervised physical exercise are evident regardless of age.