Nursing care after AMI: a comprehensive review

Although inadequately controlled, results of studies of cardiac rehabilitation suggest a decrease in mortality and morbidity for patients who adhere to an exercise program. These findings, however, have not been substantiated by better controlled studies. The potential benefits of cardiac rehabilitation include hemodynamic, physiologic, and symptomatic improvement. Risk factor modification, however, must also be emphasized. The hemodynamic and physiologic improvements that have been attributed to peripheral adaptations and central changes in myocardial perfusion or ventricular function have not been consistently documented. A supervised cardiac rehabilitation program, however, places the patient at no increased risk, and the qualitative improvement experienced by many patients strongly support its use.