Minnesota leisure time physical activity questionnaire as an additional tool in clinical assessment of patients with coronary artery disease treated with angioplasty

Abstract

Out of many methods used for assessment of physical activity, a questionnaire seems to be a simple and affordable method of assessing the risk of occurrence of coronary insufficiency. However the number of clinical studies done on the application of physical activity questionnaires is limited. Aim.The objective of the present study was to analyze the suitability of Minnesota Leisure Time Physical Activity Questionnaire (MLTPAQ) in assessment of physical activity in patients after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) Material and methods. Design: prospective analysis — before and 6 months after PCI and correlation between level of physical activity and physical capacity assessed with treadmill exercise test (ET), ejection fraction (LVEF%) Setting: Upper Silesia Medical Center. Department of cardiology. Population: One hundred fiftieth four inpatients (mean of 56 y), among which there were patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI), with history of past MI and with IHD without MI. All subjects underwent coronarography procedure with optional PCI. All patients underwent phase I and II cardiac rehabilitation. The MLTPAQ was administered to all patients at the time of PCI and then 6 months later, so was the treadmill stress test (TST) and echocardiography (ECHO). Results. Total energy expenditure calculated with the MLTPAQ remained at the same level and was of low intensity (<4 MET, <2000 kcal/week) 6 months after the PCI. There was an increased physical capacity noted 6 months after initial PCI: increased metabolic cost (MET); maximal oxygen consumption (VO 2max); maximal heart rate (HR max) obtained during the TST and decreased resting heart rate (HR rest). ECHO examination showed improved LVEF%. Clinical Rehabilitation Impact: the helpfulness of the research may be used in the work of cardiologists or physiotherapists. The research will allow to estimate the actual level of physical activity and physical endurance of patients that were treated by angioplasty. Moreover, this is the simple and cheap method of estimation. Conclusion. Despite increased physical capacity and improved heart hemodynamic resulting most likely from PCI procedure, patients presented with similar level of leisure time physical activity 6 months after the PCI.