Cardiac rehabilitation is associated with an improvement in C-reactive protein levels in both men and women with cardiovascular disease.

Purpose: Inflammation is involved in the development of atherosclerotic plaque. The most studied indicator of inflammation in coronary heart diseases (CHD) is C-reactive protein (CRP) which has prognostic significance in those with CHD. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of participation in cardiac rehabilitation (CR) on this marker of vascular inflammation, CRP.

Clinical profile and outcomes of diabetic and nondiabetic patients in cardiac rehabilitation.

Background: Patients with diabetes mellitus have increased risk of cardiovascular disease; however, there are limited data addressing cardiac rehabilitation in these patients. This study assessed the effectiveness of participation in cardiac rehabilitation on clinical outcomes after myocardial infarction and/or revascularization procedures in diabetic and nondiabetic patients.

Methods: Analysis on 1505 patients completing a minimum of 7 weeks of a 12-week cardiac rehabilitation program included fasting lipid profile and glucose, body mass index, and metabolic equivalent time in patients with diabetes (n = 292) and without diabetes (n = 1213).

Independent effect of cardiac rehabilitation on lipids in coronary artery disease.

Purpose: We evaluate the effects cardiac rehabilitation (CR) participation independent of using lipid-altering agents (LAAs) on low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, total cholesterol, and triglyceride. Measurements included absolute and relative change in lipids and increases in percent of patients achieving goals.

Methods: Analysis of 766 patients who participated in CR between 2000 and 2003 was performed.