Cardiovascular journal of Africa | 2021
Comparison of the improvement of flow-mediated dilatation in patients with acute coronary syndrome versus stable angina after six-month cardiac rehabilitation.
Abstract
BACKGROUND\nWe investigated whether the improvement in endothelial function, measured using flow-mediated dilatation (FMD), an important predictor of cardiovascular outcomes, was comparable in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) versus stable angina patients after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and a six-month cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programme.\n\n\nMETHODS\nWe analysed the results from 119 patients who completed a six-month CR programme after successful PCI for stable angina (n = 50) and ACS (n = 69).\n\n\nRESULTS\nAfter six months of CR, the results of FMD were significantly improved in both groups. There were no significant between-group differences in the FMD results at the six-month follow up.\n\n\nCONCLUSIONS\nAfter successful PCI and a six-month CR programme, FMD values were equally improved in both stable angina and ACS patients.