EARLY PROGRAMS OF HIGH AND LOW-INTENSITY EXERCISE AND QUALITY-OF-LIFEAFTER ACUTE MYOCARDIAL-INFARCTION

Objective-To determine whether a group programme of light exercise cou ld improve quality of life in patients after acute myocardial infarcti on to the same extent as a high intensity exercise training programme. Setting-Australian teaching hospital. Patients-224 men from a consecu tive series of 339 men under 70 admitted to a coronary care unit with transmural acute myocardial infarction. Intervention-Patients were ran domly allocated in hospital to a group programme lasting eight weeks o f either high intensity exercise training or light exercise. Main outc ome measures-Physical working capacity based on metabolic equivalents achieved from treadmill exercise tests at entry, after 11 weeks, and a fter one year. Quality of life based on self report scores of anxiety, depression, denial, and wellbeing and interview assessments of activi ties and psychosocial adjustment at entry, after four months, and afte r one year. Results-The two groups were well matched at entry. At 11 w eeks the mean results of treadmill testing were 10.7 (95% confidence i nterval 10.20 to 11.20) metabolic equivalents for exercise training an d 9.7 (9.26 to 10.14) for light exercise (t=2.85, df=181, p=0.005). Ap art from this small temporary benefit in mean physical working capacit y, there were no significant differences between groups. Improvement i n occupational adjustment score from baseline to four months was great er after exercise training than after light exercise, but at one year repeated measures analysis of variance showed no significant effects o f treatment or interaction between treatment and time point. Conclusio n-The effects on quality of life of a low cost programme of light exer cise are similar to those obtained from a high intensity exercise trai ning programme.