[Physical training of patients with ischemic heart disease. Effects on diastolic time]

In patients (pt) with coronary artery disease diastolic duration is an important determinant of myocardial oxygen supply. To assess the effects of physical training on diastolic duration, twelve male pt with previous infarction were studied. During 12 month training program the physical exercise was of progressively increasing intensity, duration and frequency. Training induced a significant reduction in heart rate. Both systolic and diastolic blood pressure were unchanged. The mean values of electromechanical systole were lower after training. On the contrary, the training induced a lengthening of diastolic duration expressed as percentage of cardiac cycle (% diastole) from 51.4 +/- 2.6 to 57.5 +/- 3.8% (p < 0.001). Thus, this results validate the hypothesis that physical exercise training can improve myocardial perfusion through an increase in diastolic duration, partially independent of bradycardia.