QUANTIFICATION AND VALUATION OF LEISURE-T IME PHYSICAL-ACTIVITY OF PATIENTS PARTICIPATING IN CARDIAC REHABILITATION GROUPS

A self-administered questionnaire was used to assess leisure time phys ical activity (LTPA) of patients participating in cardiac rehabilitati on groups (CHD: n = 144 male, female) and a control group (CG: n = 100 male, female). The mean time of LTPA per week was 12.2 h (CHD) and 13 .3 h (CG), this difference was due to the fact that participants of ca rdiac rehabilitation groups were less engaged (1 h) in sport activitie s. The results show that 70-80% of the CHD patients organized in the g roups achieve LTPA levels which reach energy turnover rates being thou ght to have beneficial effects on the course of the atherosclerotic co ronary disease. Participants who did not reach the critical turnover v alues should be paid more educational and medical attention. In that w ay, a regular control of LTPA of patients participating in cardiac reh abilitation groups can help to identify less active group members and may improve the care of CHD patients.