TITLE:
Cardiac Rehabilitation in the Elderly
AUTHORS:
Aw Fatou, Wiam Akif, Mame Madjiguene Ka, Aimee Mbaye Sy, Waly Niang Mboup, Aliou Aalassane Ngaide, Ccherif Mboup, Simon Antoine Sarr, Josep Salvadou Mingou, Marguerite Tening Diouf, Khadim Rassoul Diop, Momar Dioum, Malick Bodian, Mohamed Leye, Alain Désiré Affangla, Mouhammadou Bamba Ndiaye, Alassane Mbaye, Serigne Mor Beye, Adama Kane, Maboury Diao, Abdoul Kane
KEYWORDS:
Cardiac Rehabilitation, Elderly, Dakar
JOURNAL NAME:
World Journal of Cardiovascular Diseases,
Vol.13 No.12,
December
27,
2023
ABSTRACT: Introduction: The purpose of cardiac
rehabilitation is to improve the effects of aging and maintain a good quality
of life for older individuals. This study aims to assess how cardiac rehabilitation
affects the autonomy and quality of life of older adults. Patients and
Method: This was a longitudinal, descriptive and comparative
before-and-after cardiovascular rehabilitation study conducted over a two-year
period from January 2019 to December 2021. This study was conducted at four
cardiac rehabilitation units in Dakar: the Aristide Le Dantec Hospital (HALD),
National Dalal Jamm Hospital, and the General Idrissa Pouye Hospital (HOGIP). We
compared the degree of autonomy, dependence and quality of life of subjects
aged over 65 before and after the cardiac rehabilitation program using the Katz
index, the Lowton index and the SF12 quality-of-life questionnaire. Results: Over a two-year period, a total of 345 patients had benefited from a complete
cardiovascular rehabilitation program in the four cardiovascular rehabilitation
units in Dakar, and 86 patients, or 24.92% of the population, were at least 65
years old. The patients were predominantly male (sex ratio M/F = 4.73). The
mean age was 70.35 ± 4.55 years for men and 69.27 ± 4.59 years for women. The
main pathology motivating cardiac rehabilitation was ischemic heart disease,
which was found in 73 patients (84.88%). Initial assessment revealed exertional
dyspnea in 35 patients (40.69%), followed by residual exertional angina in 21
patients (4.41%). Mean functional capacity increased from 5.81 ± 2.38 Mets in
pre-cardiac rehabilitation to 8.68 ± 2.28 Mets in post-cardiac rehabilitation
(p m in pre-cardiac rehabilitation to 524 ± 98.54 m in post-cardiac rehabilitation (p = 0.119). The
Lowton dependency index in pre-cardiac rehabilitation was 44.18% versus 36.04%
in post-cardiac rehabilitation (p = 0.0156). The mental quality of life score
was 42.15 ± 10.27 in pre-cardiac rehabilitation versus 52.94 ± 10.86 in
post-cardiac rehabilitation (p Conclusion: This study
demonstrates the effectiveness of the cardiac rehabilitation program in elderly
subjects. In fact, this well-managed, well-structured and well-supervised
program enables this population to regain their autonomy, improve their quality
of life and functional capacities, and consequently their prognosis.