Objective: In cardiac rehabilitation program (CRP), patients are supported to achieve and maintain optimal physical and psychosocial health following a recent cardiac event or procedure. In this ...study, we aimed to retrospectively assess the effects of CRP in our cardiopulmonary rehabilitation unit. Material and Methods: Records of 40 patients with a diagnosis of coronary artery disease (CAD) and 10 patients who had undergone coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) and who completed 30 sessions were evaluated. CRP comprised aerobic exercise with cycle ergometer and the upper and lower extremity strengthening exercises. The patients' vital signs were monitored during the cycle ergometer exercise. The quality of life of the patients were evaluated with the Short Form-36 (SF-36), aerobic exercise capacity and metabolic equivalent (MET) levels were assessed with the effort test using the Bruce protocol, their functional capacity was assessed with a 6-min walk test, and depression levels were assessed with the Beck Depression Inventory. Results: After CRP there were statistically significant differences in all subunits of SF-36 except social function, emotional role, and mental component in patients with CAD (p less than or equal to 0.05). In patients with CABG, physical function, physical role, social function, and mental health subunits of SF-36 significantly improved (p less than or equal to 0.05). The patients' mean MET values significantly increased in both the groups (p less than or equal to 0.05). The mean 6-MWT distances significantly increased from 455.3 + or - 66.4 to 522.7 + or - 68.5 m after CRP in patients with CAD (p<0.001). Furthermore, in patients with CABG, the mean 6-MWT distances significantly increased from 389.1 + or - 88.5 to 495.0 + or - 99.1 m (p less than or equal to 0.05). There was significant decrease in BDI score from 4.3 + or - 7.1 to 2.9 + or - 4.3 in patients with CAD (p less than or equal to 0.05). However, no significant change in mean BDI score was observed in patients with CABG. Conclusion: In our cardiopulmonary rehabilitation unit, CRP comprising endurance exercise using cycle ergometer, improved the quality of life and functional capacity in patients with CAD and CABG. However, the improvement in depression level was observed only in patients with CAD. Keywords: Cardiac rehabilitation, endurance exercise, cycle ergometer
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