Improved Walk Test Performance and Blood Pressure Responses in Men and Women Completing Cardiac Rehabilitation: Implications Regarding Exercise Trainability

Abstract

Purpose. To evaluate changes in walk test performance and blood pressure (BP) responses following a 12-week exercise-based outpatient cardiac rehabilitation (CR) program. Methods. Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT) and resting systolic BP (SBP), diastolic BP (DBP), post-6MWT heart rate (HR), and post-6MWT BPs were measured before and after CR in 311 (237 men,74 women) patients. Using age as a covariate, 2 by 2 (Gender × Measurement) ANCOVAs were used to determine differences in 6MWT performance and hemodynamic variables. Results. After adjusting for age, men covered a greater 6MWT distance than women; pre-CR versus post-CR program values are as follows: men, 429.3 ± 94.6 versus 557.6 ± 90.7 m, P ≤.001; women, 374.9 ± 100.7 versus 483.2 ± 82.9 m, P ≤.001. Both genders reduced resting DBP following the CR program (men: 67.2 ± 9.8 vs 65.6 ± 8.5 mm Hg, P =.034; women: 69.2 ± 10.7 vs 65.0 ± 8.0 mm Hg, P =.001) and increased HR following the 6MWT after the CR program (men: 97.7 ± 16.8 vs 112.7 ± 21.3 bpm, P ≤.001; women: 100.7 ± 20.8 vs 110.2 ± 22.0 bpm, P ≤.001). Similarly, SBP increased immediately following the 6MWT (122.8 ± 18.5 vs 133.6 ± 20.7 mm Hg; P ≤.001) in men but not in women. Conclusion. The present findings indicate similar relative improvements in 6MWT performance and BP responses in adherent men and women following an exercise-based CR program.