Sustained Effects of Cardiac Rehabilitation in Children With Serious Congenital Heart Disease

Abstract

In patients with congenital heart disease, cardiac rehabilitation produces significant, sustained improvements in exercise function, behavior, self-esteem, and emotional state.

Cardiopulmonary exercise function among patients undergoing transcatheter pulmonary valve implantation in the US Melody valve investigational trial

“…Finally, a previous study has reported that, on exercise tests separated by 1 year, the peak VO 2 of stable patients with complex congenital heart disease did not change significantly. 33 These considerations imply that the changes observed in this study were not the result of variations in patient effort or "regression to the mean." When patients with a clinically significant improvement in peak VO 2 were compared with other patients, we once again noted that indices associated with RV dysfunction (ie, RV dilation, elevated RV filling pressures, lower RVEF, and more severe TR) were more pronounced among patients who had a clinically significant improvement in peak VO 2 .…”

Exercise prescription for patients with a Fontan circulation: current evidence and future directions

“…28,35 In a recent publication, Rhodes et al showed that the effects of exercise training on VO 2peak and ventilatory anaerobic threshold could be sustained in the patients after a seven-month follow-up period. 36 Moreover, they reported positive effects of exercise training on physical and psychosocial functioning of children with congenital heart disease. 36 The improvements in exercise capacity (VO 2peak ) after exercise training could be explained by improvements on several factors.…”

Exercise Standards for Testing and Training

“…589 In one study, the short-term improvements were sustained 6 to 9 months after the termination of the rehabilitation program (1 year after the prerehabilitation study) and were associated with improvements in lifestyle, perceived exercise function, self-esteem, and emotional state. 590 Improvements in exercise function and other areas were not observed in a control group, composed of 18 children with similar diagnoses, observed over the same time period.…”