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Cardiac Rehabilitation Improves Outcomes After Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm Repair
Chiemi Yamazaki1, Atsuko Nakayama2, Junko Sakamoto3
1Department of Cardiology, Sakakibara Heart Institute, Tokyo, Japan; Department of Cardiology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
Insights
Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) after thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) surgery significantly lowers major adverse cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality. This benefit was observed even in former smokers, highlighting CR
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Vascular Surgery
- Rehabilitation Medicine
Background:
- Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is established for ischemic heart disease and heart failure.
- Effectiveness of CR in thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) patients post-surgery is not well-defined.
- TAA repair surgery requires comprehensive post-operative care to improve patient outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the impact of outpatient CR on major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE).
- To assess the effect of CR on all-cause mortality following open TAA repair.
- To analyze CR's role in TAA patient recovery and long-term prognosis.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective cohort study of 1,710 patients undergoing open TAA repair (2003-2015).
- Comparison between a CR group (n=419) and a non-CR group (n=1,193).
- Propensity score matching used to control for baseline differences; primary outcomes: MACE and all-cause mortality.
Main Results:
- The CR group showed significantly lower MACE (HR: 0.58) and all-cause mortality (HR: 0.59) post-matching.
- Five-year estimated all-cause mortality was 7.5% for CR vs. 12.3% for non-CR.
- CR benefit persisted in former smokers, who had higher overall mortality risk (HR: 2.69).
Conclusions:
- Outpatient CR post-TAA surgery is linked to reduced MACE and mortality.
- CR demonstrates a positive impact on survival even for TAA patients with a history of smoking.
- Integrating CR into post-TAA surgical care may improve long-term cardiovascular outcomes.
Background:
Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) improves prognosis in patients with ischemic heart disease and heart failure. However, its effectiveness in aortic diseases, such as thoracic aortic aneurysms (TAA), remains unclear.
Objectives:
This study aimed to evaluate the effects of outpatient CR on major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) and all-cause mortality after open repair surgery for TAA.
Methods:
This retrospective cohort study analyzed 1,710 patients who underwent open TAA repair between 2003 and 2015. Patients were divided into a CR group (n = 419) and a non-CR group (n = 1,193). Follow-up duration was 1,603 (734-2,301) days in the CR group and 1,169 (610-1,991) days in the non-CR group. Propensity score matching was used to balance the baseline characteristics. Primary outcomes were MACE and all-cause mortality.
Results:
After matching, the CR group exhibited a significantly lower incidence of MACEs (HR: 0.58; 95% CI: 0.34-0.97; P = 0.039) and all-cause mortality (HR: 0.59; 95% CI: 0.37-0.94; P = 0.026). The 5-year estimated all-cause mortality rate was 7.5% (95% CI: 4.9%-11.3%) and 12.3% (95% CI: 8.7%-17.3%), respectively. Cardiovascular deaths were 1.7% (7 of 419) and 2.9% (35 of 1,193) in the CR and non-CR groups, respectively (P = 0.17). Former smoking was independently associated with higher all-cause mortality (HR: 2.69; 95% CI: 1.62-4.45; P = 0.001). In former smokers, CR was associated with lower all-cause mortality (log-rank P = 0.008).
Conclusions:
Outpatient CR following TAA surgery was associated with reduced risks of MACE and all-cause mortality, even in the patients with former smoking.
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