Novel molecular biomarkers’ response to a cardiac rehabilitation programme in patients with ischaemic heart diseases

Abstract

Objective: Few data are available on the effect of resistance exercise training combined with endurance training (circuit training) on new molecular biomarkers which are considered as early independent risk factors for atherosclerosis progression. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effect of a cardiac rehabilitation programme (CRP), on homocysteine (Hcy), apolipoprotein A1, peak VO₂ and muscle strength in patients with stable angina pectoris.

Method: A total of 40 male patients with stable angina pectoris class I and class II according to the NYHA classification were recruited. Their ages ranged between 40 and 50 years. Patients were randomly divided into two groups: Group (A), the training group who received CRP for three months and Group (B), the control group.

Results: At the end of the programme, the study group (A) showed a significant reduction in homocysteine along with a significant increase in ApoA1, peak VO₂ and muscle strength, while the control group showed a non-significant increase in homocysteine, peak VO₂ and muscle strength along with a non-significant decrease in ApoA1. There was a negative strong correlation between Hcy and apolipoprotein A1 (r = −0.76, p = .0001), between Hcy and peak VO2 (r = −0.81, p = .0001) and strong positive correlation between peak VO2 and ApoA1 in the study group.

Conclusion: It could be concluded that CRP reduced serum Hcy levels with an increase in apolipoprotein A1, peak VO₂ and muscle strength in patients with angina pectoris.

Keywords:

• Homocysteine
• apolipoprotein A1
• functional capacity
• cardiac rehabilitation
• angina pectoris

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.