Cardiac Rehabilitation and Weight Change: Insights from Retrospective Analysis of the Predictors

Although the benefits of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) are well-established, the rate of weight loss (WL) among participants remains low, with some even experiencing weight gain (WG). Further research is required to identify factors influencing weight changes in patients attending CR. This study evaluates predictors of weight change during CR.

A pre-and post-observational study was conducted using phase II CR data from the Cardiac Rehabilitation Research Center of the Isfahan Heart Research Institute. Participants were categorized into three groups based on weight changes before and after CR: no weight change (NWC), WL, and WG, with a 3% change in weight considered significant. Statistical analyses, including one-way ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis, Chi-square test, Wilcoxon signed-rank test, and regression analyses, were performed using SPSS software.

Of 309 participants, 83.2% were in the NWC group, 9.7% gained weight, and 7.1% lost weight. Wilcoxon signed-rank test revealed insignificant between the pre-and post-CR weights. Linear regression analysis with weight change as the outcome revealed age (P = 0.019) and smoking (P = 0.005) as significant factors. Ordinal logistic regression identified dyslipidemia (P = 0.04), percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) (P = 0.001), coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) (P = 0.01), and smoking (P = 0.03) as predictors of weight change categories. Waist and hip circumferences were significantly higher in the WL group (P < 0.001).

In the CR program, younger age, higher body measurements, and a history of cardiac procedures were associated with greater WL. In contrast, current smoking and dyslipidemia levels were linked to WG.