The beneficial impact of cardiac rehabilitation on obstructive sleep apnea in patients with coronary artery disease

Abstract

Study Objectives: To assess the impact of cardiac rehabilitation for decreasing sleep-disordered breathing in patients with coronary artery disease. Methods: The study included 121 patients aged 60.01 ± 10.08 years, 101 of whom were men, with an increased pretest probability of OSA. The cardiac rehabilitation program lasted 21-25 days. The improvement in cardiorespiratory fitness was assessed using the changes in peak metabolic equivalents, the maximal heart rate achieved, the proportion of the age- and sex-predicted maximal heart rate, and the Six-MinuteWalk Test distance. Level 3 portable sleep tests with respiratory event index assessments were performed in 113 patients on admission and discharge. Results: Increases were achieved in metabolic equivalents (Δ1.20; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.95-1.40; P < .0001), maximal heart rate (-Δ7.5 beats per minute; 95% CI, 5.00-10.50; P