Staying physically active is crucial for people with heart conditions, but how do their daily activity patterns actually look? A recent study led by researchers in Japan shed light on this question by closely examining the physical activity and sedentary behavior of patients undergoing outpatient cardiac rehabilitation. The findings reveal interesting insights about the role of factors like age, sex, and fitness level in shaping these activity patterns. Understanding these characteristics can help design more personalized rehabilitation programs to improve outcomes for this vulnerable population. This research provides valuable guidance for healthcare professionals working to help cardiac patients stay active and healthy. Cardiovascular disease is a leading global health concern, so uncovering strategies to support cardiac rehabilitation is an important scientific priority.
Sedentary Time Dominates Cardiac Patients’ Days
The study, published in the journal Scientific Reports, took a close look at the daily physical activity and sedentary behavior patterns of 92 Japanese patients participating in outpatient cardiac rehabilitation. Using advanced accelerometer devices, the researchers were able to objectively measure the time these patients spent engaged in different levels of physical activity, from sedentary to moderate-to-vigorous.
The results paint a concerning picture – on average, these cardiac patients spent a staggering 663.7 minutes per day, or over 11 hours, being sedentary. In contrast, they only engaged in 25.6 minutes per day of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), which is crucial for cardiovascular health. This highlights the challenge of getting cardiac patients to be sufficiently active, even when they are actively participating in a rehabilitation program.
Sex Differences in Activity Patterns
One key insight from the study was the significant differences observed between men and women in their physical activity levels. Men spent 64 minutes more per day being sedentary compared to women, and they also engaged in 22% less light physical activity. These gender-based disparities suggest that rehabilitation programs may need to take a tailored approach to effectively motivate and support men versus women in increasing their daily movement.
The Role of Age and Fitness Level
The researchers also found that older age and lower cardiorespiratory fitness, as measured by anaerobic threshold, were associated with reduced MVPA. Specifically, each additional year of age resulted in a 3% decrease in MVPA, while each 1-MET increase in anaerobic threshold was linked to a 43% rise in MVPA.
These findings underscore the importance of carefully assessing each patient’s physical capabilities and designing rehabilitation programs that account for factors like age and fitness level. Pushing older or deconditioned patients too hard could backfire, but helping them gradually improve their aerobic capacity can unlock meaningful gains in their daily activity levels.
Implications for Personalized Rehabilitation
The study’s insights highlight the need for cardiac rehabilitation programs to take a more personalized, patient-centered approach. Rather than a one-size-fits-all strategy, these findings suggest that tailoring interventions based on characteristics like sex, age, and fitness level could be key to helping cardiac patients increase their physical activity and reduce harmful sedentary time.
By understanding the unique activity patterns and limitations of different patient subgroups, healthcare providers can develop rehabilitation programs that are more engaging, sustainable, and effective in the long run. This could include strategies like:
– Encouraging men to focus on reducing sedentary time and incorporating more walking
– Gradually building up the aerobic capacity of older or deconditioned patients before prescribing vigorous exercise
– Providing personalized activity recommendations and tracking progress over time
Ultimately, this research underscores the importance of a personalized approach to cardiac rehabilitation. By tailoring interventions to individual patient characteristics, healthcare providers can empower cardiac patients to adopt healthier, more active lifestyles – a critical component of managing cardiovascular disease and preventing future complications.
Author credit: This article is based on research by Koichi Naito, Kazuhiro P Izawa, Noriaki Maeda, Yuya Kasai, Hajime Iwama.
For More Related Articles Click Here
