Abstract

We review extensive data in patients with coronary heart disease demonstrating the benefits of exercise training (ET) programs with cardiac rehabilitation on various cardiovascular (CV) factors, including exercise capacity, plasma lipids, obesity indices, diabetes mellitus/metabolic syndrome, inflammation, blood rheology, autonomic function, indices of ventricular repolarization dispersion, psychological risk factors, quality of life, and overall major CV morbidity and mortality. In addition, we discuss the positive outcomes of ET programs in patients with peripheral arterial disease, including benefits on objective assessments of claudication and walking distance, as well as CV risk factors and overall morbidity and mortality.

Keywords: Exercise training, cardiopulmonary rehabilitation, coronary heart disease, peripheral arterial disease, claudication, depression, psychological distress